The living allowance (also called student pay) is the regular, recurring payment to Job Corps participants. It is paid bi-weekly and may include bonuses and/or incentive payments. FICA is withheld from the entire amount.

The readjustment allowance is paid at the completion or termination of the program and is based on length of participation. It may include bonuses and/or incentive payments. FICA is withheld from the entire amount.

A bi-weekly dependent's allowance may be paid directly to a participant's dependent. The Federal Government pays half of the dependent allowance. The other half is deducted from the participant's readjustment allowance.

The clothing allowance is furnished only as a voucher, redeemable at a designated clothing store. It cannot be converted to cash.

The transportation allowance is furnished only as tickets (usually bus tickets) that cannot be converted to cash.

Supportive services are services such as child care, transportation, medical care, meals, and other reasonable expenses provided in-kind.

The living allowance, or student pay, is considered wages.

The readjustment allowance, including any amount deducted to pay the participant's share of a dependent's allowance, is considered wages.

Bonuses and incentive payments are wages.

The dependent's allowance is unearned income to the dependent.

The clothing allowance (voucher) is neither income nor in-kind support and maintenance (ISM).

The transportation allowance is not income.

Food or shelter a participant receives from the Job Corps is ISM valued under the presumed maximum value (PMV) rule following SI 00835.300 when the participant is a resident of the Job Corps center and is not temporarily absent from his or her permanent living arrangement.

For the policy on temporary absence, see SI 00835.040. For parental deeming to Job Corps participants who reside in a Job Corps Center, see SI 00830.536C.12. of this section. For how to charge ISM in a temporary absence from a parental household situation, see SI 00835.042A.2.b. and SI 01310.165A.3. For determining whether deeming applies when a child is away at school, see SI 01310.165A.4.

Except as noted in SI 00830.536C.7. (in this section) food or shelter a participant receives from the Job Corps is not income when the participant’s stay at the Job Corps facility is a temporary absence from his or her permanent living arrangement. For the policy on the treatment of ISM from the permanent living arrangement during a temporary absence, see SI 00835.040C.2.

Participants residing in a Job Corps Center that meets the definition of a public institution are not considered “residents of a public institution” for purposes of determining SSI eligibility if they are there primarily to receive educational or vocational training, and are participating in that training program.

A Job Corps participant who is a student per SI 00501.020 qualifies for the student earned income exclusion.

Those supportive services provided in-kind which are medical or social services, (e.g., transportation to and from medical treatment, counseling, and job placement services), are not income. For the policy on medical and social services, see SI 00815.050.

The rules regarding temporary absences for deeming purposes apply to Job Corps participants who reside in a Job Corps Center.

A participant under age 18 who is away from the parents' household to attend Job Corps training, and is subject to parental control, is considered temporarily absent regardless of the duration of the absence. In such cases, deeming applies from the parent(s) and any food or shelter received from the Job Corps is ISM. For the policy on determining if deeming applies when the child participant is away at school, see SI 01310.165A.3. through SI 01310.165A.4.

If you need information regarding a dependent’s allowance, contact the finance office of the Job Corps center where the participant was enrolled. Document the response using any of the media in SI 00830.536D.1.a. and include the date of contact, dependent’s allowance, receipt date, contact person’s name, title and phone number. Also, include the unearned income determination described in SI 00830.536C.4.