Background: The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) requires that the State and local boards define the term "self-sufficiency" as it applies to requirements of the WIA legislation. The standards that are set for self-sufficiency will be used to determine of income eligibility for employed adults and dislocated workers who are determined to need Intensive Services and in establishing customer employment goals. The State Workforce Investment Board has not established a self -sufficiency definition for the local workforce areas but has left this up to the local areas themselves. The WIA regulations allow the local areas great flexibility in defining local self-sufficiency standards in order to have those standards reflect local economic conditions.

The Westchester Putnam Workforce Investment Area's guidelines for establishing self-sufficiency shall be as follows:

The self-sufficiency level for employed adults will be set at 400% of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines.

2. The Westchester Putnam Workforce Investment Board will review this standard as needed based of WIA funding availability and the needs of the community.

3. Only the individual income (unsubsidized income) of the employed adult or dislocated worker will be used in comparison with the 400% over the PIG for the individuals' family size.

4. In determining family size for the PIG the definition given in the Workforce Investment Act will be adopted. This definition defines family as:

The term "family" means two or more persons related by blood, marriage, or decree of court, who are living in a single residence, and are included in one or more of the following categories:

A husband, wife, and dependent children

A parent or guardian and dependent children.

A husband or wife.

5. For establishing eligibility for Intensive Services and Training for the adult or dislocated worker the following exceptions to the 400% over the PIG cap will apply:

Individuals with no significant attachment to the labor market, which will be defined as individuals with one or more of the following:

No more that three months employment during the prior twelve-month period.

Individuals who have held three (3) or more jobs during the prior twelve-month period.

The individual income is derived from multiple jobs that total more than fifty (50) hours of work per week.

The individual's job carries no health care benefits either for the individual or for the individuals' family members (family as defined by the WIA).

The individual or family members including non-custodial children continue to receive cash public assistance benefits or non-cash benefits such as, food stamps, housing subsidies, or Medicaid.

The individual has a handicapping condition, which creates additional barriers to employment.

For dislocated workers the 400% of the PIG, as defined above, or 100% of the pre layoff wage, which ever is the higher will be used.

7. The Westchester Putnam Workforce Investment Board will maintain the ability to use discretion in cases of special need.