02-14_Updated Self-Sufficiency Standard Policy FINAL

WORKFORCE POLICY BULLETIN
#02-14 (supersedes WPB #02-13)
DATE:
June 30, 2014
TO:
Contracted Service Providers
FROM:
Stephen Baiter, Executive Director
Workforce Development Board
SUBJECT:
Updated Self-Sufficiency Standard Policy for WIA Services
Purpose:
The purpose of this Workforce Policy Bulletin is to update this Workforce Investment Area’s Policy
regarding a Self-Sufficiency Standard for enrollment into WIA intensive and training services for
working adults who do not earn enough income to be self-sufficient.
Scope:
The Self-Sufficiency Standard estimates the income that working adults require to meet basic needs
without subsidies of any kind. The Standard estimates the minimum amount of money working adults
must earn to meet their family’s basic needs for housing, childcare, food, transportation, healthcare and
taxes. Each year the Department of Labor under Title I of the Workforce Investment Act issues the
Lower Living Standard Income Level.
Through WIA regulations, 20 CFR, Part 663-Adult and Dislocated Worker Activities under Title I of the
Workforce Investment Act, Subpart B Intensive Services, 663.230, “Criteria used to determine whether
an employed worker needs intensive services to obtain or retain employment leading to selfsufficiency”. The Department of Labor (DOL) placed the responsibility for defining self-sufficiency in
the hands of state and local Workforce Investment Boards in determining eligibility and extending
services to low wage workers. The DOL provides a minimum threshold for each board known as the
Lower Living Standard Income Level (LLSIL). The LLSIL, a poverty measure created by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics, uses a basic family budget approach based on the cost of food.
The self-sufficiency standard recommended by the Workforce Development Board is calculated at
200% of the LLSIL. This self-sufficiency standard takes into account cost variations based on
geography, particularly the cost of housing, family size and the age of household members; as well as
costs for childcare, transportation, food and healthcare.
Adoption of the Standard will allow the WDB to:
Extend services to low-wage workers and place them on a path to self-sufficiency, thereby raising
community standards.
Target priority sectors of the economy and demand occupations for training, and develop customized
training programs.
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Prioritize job-training programs that lead to self-sufficiency.
Offer training in occupations with career ladders that lead to self-sufficiency, or at a minimum, a wage
gain.
Set minimum standards for customized training.
Establish placement wage goals for customized training and the overall One-Stop system.
Policy
It is the policy of the Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa (WDB) that it will adopt a SelfSufficiency Standard that is 200% of the Lower Living Standard Income Level (LLSIL). The WDB used
the updated 2013 LLSIL to create the self-sufficiency wage scale and revise this policy. The Workforce
Development Board adopted an initial policy on November 24, 2003. This Workforce Policy Bulletin
updates the policy and replaces all previous policies on the Self-Sufficiency Standard.
When applying the self-sufficiency standard to individuals seeking training, current wages and family
household size for that individual should be considered. The total household wage should be divided
by two when more than one adult wage earner lives in the household.
200% of the Lower Living Standard Income Level (LLSIL)
Family Size
SelfSufficiency
Wage
Annual
6 Months
1
2
3
4
5
6
Each
Add’l
Add
$31,490
$15,745
$51,600
$25,800
70,820
$35,410
$87,428
$43,714
$103,176
$51,588
$120,670
$60,335
$17,494
$8,747
The Self-Sufficiency Standard will be applied when determining the following:
Individual customer intake based on family size and household income.
Employed-worker eligibility for Adult and Customized Training programs in occupations with career
ladders that lead to self-sufficiency.
Job training program in priority sectors of the economy and demand occupations.
Minimum standards for customized training.
References: http://www.edd.ca.gov/Jobs_andTraining/pubs/wsd13-12.pdf
If you have any questions regarding this bulletin, please contact Bob Whatford at
[email protected] or (925) 671-4541.
cc:
Donna VanWert, One-Stop Administrator
Maureen Nelson, Assistant One-Stop Administrator
Bob Whatford, Workforce Services Specialist, One-Stop Consortium
Claire Marchiano, Concord One-Stop
Richard Cox, Antioch and Brentwood One-Stop
Drew Douglas, San Pablo One-Stop
Noramah Burch, MIS Administrator Workforce Development Board
Mike Roetzer, EHSD Director of Administration
Elaine Burres, EHSD Contracts Administrator
Rhonda Scott, EHSD Fiscal Analyst
Charlotte Lew, Senior Community Services Employment Program Coordinator
Gina Del Carlo, Youth Programs Coordinator
Larry Jones, Workforce Development Board
Linda Palmquist, EDD WIA Regional Advisor
Alejandra Chamberlain, CCC Office of Education
Ruth Barajas–Cardona, Bay Area Community Resources
James Wogan, Mt. Diablo Unified School District
Merl Craft, WIA Case Manager/Gerry Dunbar, Project Administrator - Future Build
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DIRECTIVE
WORKFORCE SERVICES
Number: WSD13-12
Date: May 16, 2014
69:52:df:16853
TO:
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
SUBJECT:
70 PERCENT LLSIL AND POVERTY GUIDELINES FOR 2014
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Purpose:
This directive issues the 70 percent Lower Living Standard Income Level (LLSIL) for
2014 published by the Secretary of Labor in the Federal Register on March 27, 2014.
It also issues the 2014 poverty guidelines published by the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS) in the Federal Register on January 22, 2014.
Scope:
The LLSIL and poverty guidelines are used to establish low-income status for
Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Title I programs. Local Workforce Investment Areas
(local areas) use the LLSIL to determine eligibility for youth, eligibility for employed
adults for certain services, self-sufficiency, and eligibility for the Work Opportunity Tax
Credit. The local areas should consult the WIA and its regulations, and preamble for
more specific guidance.
Effective Date:
The 2014 LLSIL and 2014 poverty guidelines became effective on their dates of
publication in the Federal Register, March 27, 2014, and January 22, 2014,
respectively.
REFERENCES:
•
WIA Section 101(24), 101(25), 127(b)(2)(C), 132(b)(1)(B)(v)(IV), and 134(d)(3)(A)(ii)
•
Title 20 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Section 663.230
•
Federal Register, Volume 79, Number 59, WIA; LLSIL (March 27, 2014)
•
Federal Register, Volume 79, Number 14, Annual Update of the HHS Poverty
Guidelines for 2014 (January 22, 2014)
The EDD is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.
Workforce Services Division / P.O. Box 826880 / MIC 50 / Sacramento CA 94280-0001
Page 1 of 3
www.edd.ca.gov
STATE-IMPOSED REQUIREMENTS:
This directive contains one State-imposed requirement, which is in bold italic print.
FILING INSTRUCTIONS:
This directive supersedes Directive WSD12-15, dated May 23, 2013, and finalizes Draft
Directive WSDD-100, issued for comment on April 10, 2014. The Workforce Services
Division received two comments during the draft period. These comments resulted in
substantive changes to Attachment 1 of the directive which can be viewed as
highlighted text. A summary of comments is provided as Attachment 2. Retain this
directive until further notice.
BACKGROUND:
The WIA Section 101(25)(B) sets the criteria local areas use in determining whether an
individual is a low-income individual. This criterion includes two sets of data: the poverty
guidelines, as published by HHS, and 70 percent of the LLSIL, as determined by the
Secretary of Labor. The local areas use the higher of these two measures to establish
low-income status for eligibility purposes of WIA Title I programs. The WIA requires
annual revisions to both sets of data.
All local areas use the same poverty guidelines. However, the LLSIL identifies
maximum qualifying income levels for residents in either of two broad geographic
designations: metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. Metropolitan income levels
apply to residents living within Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) as defined by the
Office of Management and Budget. Nonmetropolitan income levels apply to places with
populations under 50,000. In addition to the broad metropolitan and nonmetropolitan
designations, the Department of Labor identifies three MSAs in California that have
unique LLSILs: the San Diego MSA, the Los Angeles/Riverside/Orange County MSA,
and the San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose MSA.
POLICY AND PROCEDURES:
1. Select the appropriate table for use by your local area from the five tables in
the Attachment. (In those instances where a local area encompasses both
metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, the State has designated the higher
of the LLSIL figures for use within the entire local area.)
2. Use the higher of either the LLSIL or the poverty guideline for the appropriate family
size to determine low-income status. A comparison of the applicant’s actual family
income during the six-month income determination period with the six-month figures
on the charts enables the reviewer to immediately determine income status.
3. The WIA, together with Title 20 CFR 663.230, requires Local Workforce Investment
Boards to set the criteria for determining whether employment leads to
self-sufficiency. At a minimum, such criteria must provide that self-sufficiency means
employment that pays at least 100 percent of the LLSIL established for a local area.
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ACTION:
Notify all affected staff of the changes to the LLSIL and poverty guidelines in this
directive.
INQUIRIES:
If you have any questions, please contact your Regional Advisor at 916-654-7799.
/S/ JOSÉ LUIS MÁRQUEZ, Chief
Workforce Services Division
Attachments are available on the Internet:
1. 70 Percent LLSIL and Poverty Guidelines for 2014
2. Summary of Comments
Page 3 of 3
ATTACHMENT 1
70 PERCENT LLSIL AND POVERTY GUIDELINES FOR 2014
The Lower Living Standard Income Level (LLSIL) and poverty guidelines are used to
establish low-income status for Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Title I programs. Local
Workforce Investment Areas (local areas) use the LLSIL to determine eligibility for
youth, eligibility for employed adults for certain services, self-sufficiency, and eligibility
for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit. The local areas should consult the WIA and its
regulations, and preamble for more specific guidance.
Tables 1 through 5 show the 70 percent LLSIL and the poverty guidelines for western
metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and for three specific Metropolitan Statistical
Areas in California. In addition, each LLSIL table includes the 100 percent LLSIL that
establishes the Department of Labor’s minimum self-sufficiency levels. The last column
in each table shows the amount to be added to the figure for a family of six for each
additional family member.
Since the income received during the six-month period immediately prior to the
individual's application for WIA funded services is used for income determination, each
chart below shows the six-month, as well as the annual, figures for each family size.
A comparison of the applicant's actual family income during the six-month income
determination period with the six-month figures on the charts enables the reviewer to
immediately determine an individual’s eligibility.
Effective Dates:
LLSIL:
Poverty Guidelines:
March 27, 2014
January 22, 2014
Table 1—San Diego Metropolitan Statistical Area
Local
Areas
San Diego Consortium
Family Size
1
2
3
4
5
6
Each
Add'l add
70% LLSIL
Annual
6 Months
100%
$ 11,506 $ 18,849 $ 25,880 $ 31,945 $ 37,699
$ 5,753
$ 9,425 $ 12,940 $ 15,973 $ 18,850
$ 16,438 $ 26,927 $ 36,971 $ 45,635 $ 53,855
Poverty Guidelines
Annual
$ 11,670 $ 15,730 $ 19,790 $ 23,850
$ 5,835
$ 7,865
$ 9,895 $ 11,925
6 Months
Page 1 of 3
$ 27,910
$ 13,955
$ 44,090
$ 22,045
$ 62,986
$ 6,391
$ 3,195
$ 9,131
$ 31,970
$ 15,985
$ 4,060
$ 2,030
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Table 2—Los Angeles/Riverside/Orange County Metropolitan Statistical Area
Local
Areas
Anaheim
Foothill E&T Consortium
Pacific Gateway (formerly
Long Beach City)
Los Angeles City
Los Angeles County
Orange County
Riverside County
Santa Ana City
San Bernardino City
San Bernardino County
SELACO Consortium
South Bay Consortium
Ventura County
Verdugo Consortium
Family Size
1
2
3
4
5
Each
Add'l add
6
70% LLSIL
Annual
6 Months
100%
$ 10,623 $ 17,408
$ 5,312
$ 8,704
$ 15,176 $ 24,869
$ 23,901 $ 29,506
$ 11,951 $ 14,753
$ 34,144 $ 42,151
$ 34,818
$ 17,409
$ 49,740
$ 40,724
$ 20,362
$ 58,177
$ 5,906
$ 2,953
$ 8,437
Poverty Guidelines
Annual
$ 11,670 $ 15,730
$ 5,835
$ 7,865
6 Months
$ 19,790 $ 23,850
$ 9,895 $ 11,925
$ 27,910
$ 13,955
$ 31,970
$ 15,985
$ 4,060
$ 2,030
Table 3—San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose Metropolitan Statistical Area
Local
Areas
Alameda County
Contra Costa County
Marin County
Napa County
NOVA Consortium
Oakland City
Richmond City
San Benito
San Francisco City/Co.
San Jose/Silicon Valley
San Mateo County
Santa Cruz County
Solano County
Sonoma County
Family Size
1
2
3
4
5
6
Each
Add'l add
70% LLSIL
Annual
$ 11,022 $ 18,060 $ 24,787 $ 30,600
$ 5,511
$ 9,030 $ 12,394 $ 15,300
6 Months
100%
$ 15,745 $ 25,800 $ 35,410 $ 43,714
$ 36,111
$ 18,056
$ 51,588
$ 42,234
$ 21,117
$ 60,335
$ 6,123
$ 3,062
$ 8,747
Poverty Guidelines
Annual
$ 11,670
$ 5,835
6 Months
$ 27,910
$ 13,955
$ 31,970
$ 15,985
$ 4,060
$ 2,030
$ 15,730
$ 7,865
$ 19,790
$ 9,895
$ 23,850
$ 11,925
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Table 4— Metropolitan Areas
Local
Areas
Fresno County
Golden Sierra Consortium
Imperial County
Kern/Inyo/Mono Consortium
Kings County
Madera County
Merced County
Monterey County
NoRTEC Consortium
North Central Consortium
Sacramento City/Co.
San Joaquin County
San Luis Obispo County
Santa Barbara County
Stanislaus County
Tulare County
Yolo County
Family Size
1
2
3
5
4
Each
Add'l add
6
70% LLSIL
Annual
$ 10,680 $ 17,502 $ 24,030 $ 29,665
$ 5,340 $ 8,751 $ 12,015 $ 14,833
6 Months
100%
$ 15,258 $ 25,003 $ 34,329 $ 42,378
$ 35,005
$ 17,503
$ 50,008
$ 40,943
$ 20,472
$ 58,490
$ 5,938
$ 2,969
$ 8,482
Poverty Guidelines
Annual
$ 11,670 $ 15,730 $ 19,790 $ 23,850
$ 5,835
$ 7,865
$ 9,895 $ 11,925
6 Months
$ 27,910
$ 13,955
$ 31,970
$ 15,985
$ 4,060
$ 2,030
Table 5—Nonmetropolitan Areas
Local
Areas
Humboldt County
Mendocino County
Mother Lode Consortium
Family Size
1
2
3
4
5
6
Each
Add'l add
70% LLSIL
Annual
6 Months
100%
$ 10,548 $ 17,286 $ 23,733 $ 29,294
$ 5,274
$ 8,643 $ 11,867 $ 14,647
$ 15,068 $ 24,694 $ 33,905 $ 41,849
$ 34,573
$ 17,287
$ 49,390
$ 40,435
$ 20,218
$ 57,764
$ 5,862
$ 2,931
$ 8,374
Poverty Guidelines
Annual
$ 11,670 $ 15,730 $ 19,790 $ 23,850
$ 5,835
$ 7,865
$ 9,895 $ 11,925
6 Months
$ 27,910
$ 13,955
$ 31,970
$ 15,985
$ 4,060
$ 2,030
Page 3 of 3
ATTACHMENT 2
Summary of Comments
Draft Directive “70 Percent LLSIL and Poverty Guidelines for 2014”
There were two comments to the draft version of this directive:
Commenter #1 and #2: Both commenters noted that the 6-month figures in Tables 3-5
were incorrect.
Resolution: The Employment Development Department corrected the 6-month figures
in Tables 3-5.
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