I.          Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to notify the local workforce development areas of the annually updated poverty line and the lower living standard income level tables.

II.         Effective Date

Immediately

III.        Rescission

ODJFS, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Policy Letter No. 15-19, Poverty Income Guidelines and Lower Living Standard Income Level, (November 12, 2015).

IV.       Background

The poverty line and lower living standard income level (LLSIL) may be used, in addition to several other measures, to determine if a WIOA applicant or participant meets the definition of a low-income individual. In-school youth -- and out-of-school youth with certain barriers defined in WIOA -- must be low-income individuals (except for up to five percent of the youth otherwise required to be low-income individuals who may be served by the local area even though they are not low-income.)

For the adult program, low-income individuals must receive priority status (along with recipients of public assistance and individuals who are basic skills deficient) for individualized career services and for training services.

For purposes of youth program eligibility and adult service priority, individuals meet the definition of low-income if their family income does not exceed the poverty line, or 70 percent of the LLSIL, whichever is greater for that family size.

V.        Definitions

Low income individual: As defined in section 3(36)(A) of WIOA, an individual who:

a.         Receives, or in the past 6 months has received, or is a member of a family that is receiving or in the past 6 months has received, assistance through the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP), temporary assistance for needy families (TANF), or the supplemental security income (SSI) or local income-based public assistance;

b.         Is in a family with total family income that does not exceed the higher of:

• The poverty line; or

•  70 percent of the lower living standard income level.

c.         Is a homeless individual;

d.         Receives or is eligible to receive a free or reduced price lunch (which does not include youth attending school in districts subsidizing all student meals who would not otherwise be eligible as individuals for free or reduced price lunch);

e.         Is a foster child on behalf of whom the State or local government payments are made; or

f.          Is an individual with a disability whose own income meets the eligibility income requirement of clause (b) but who is a member of a family whose income does not meet this requirement.

Lower living standard income level:          As defined in section 3(36)(B) of WIOA, income level (adjusted for regional, metropolitan, urban, and rural differences and family size) determined annually by the United States Department of Labor (DOL) based on the most recent lower living family budget issued by the Secretary of the Department.

Ohio Workforce Case Management System (OWCMS):          A system used by workforce professionals to gather and report program data and information for the following programs: WIOA, Wagner-Peyser, Veteran, Apprenticeship, Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker, Foreign Labor Certification, and Trade.

Poverty line:  The income level defined by the federal Office of Management and Budget and revised annually by the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in accordance with section 673(2) of the Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902(2)).

VI.       State Requirements

The poverty line and LLSIL are issued at separate times by different federal agencies. The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is responsible for the poverty line and historically revises the standards during the first quarter of the calendar year. The United States Department of Labor (DOL) determines and releases the LLSIL for Title I of WIOA during the second quarter of the calendar year. The revised poverty line and LLSIL are communicated annually by the Office of Workforce Development, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, to the local workforce development boards.

When both income tables have been revised at the federal level, the table listing the poverty line and 70 percent of the LLSIL for each family size will be updated in the Ohio Workforce Case Management System (OWCMS) for income-based eligibility determinations. When the income tables in OWCMS have been updated, notification will be sent via e-mail to the local workforce development boards and OhioMeansJobs center operators.

An updated chart will also be posted on the OWD State Policy and Guidance Information web page.

VII.      Local Workforce Development Area Requirements

Upon receiving notice that the income tables in OWCMS have been updated, the local workforce development board must ensure that the revised standards are used for determining WIOA youth eligibility and for determining priority status for certain adult services.

VIII.     Technical Assistance

For technical assistance, you may send your request to the Office of Workforce Development: WIOAQNA@jfs.ohio.gov.

IX.       References

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, § 3(36), Public Law 113-128.

O.A.C. rule 5101:10-3-01.

ODJFS, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Policy Letter No. 15-08.1, Career Services for Adults and Dislocated Workers, (June 6, 2017).