Passed in 2014, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) repealed the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998. The WIOA was designed to strengthen and improve the national’s public workforce system, including by helping job seekers access employment, education, training, and support services to succeed in the labor market and by matching employers with the skilled workers they need. Most provisions of WIOA took effect on July 1, 2015. Exceptions include the amendments to the Rehabilitation Act, which took effect on the date of enactment (July 22, 2014).

WIOA strengthens and modernizes the existing workforce infrastructure and expands the requirements for State workforce systems and One-Stop Career Centers. The focus is to connect job seekers, particularly those experiencing barriers to employment, with education and training opportunities that provide them with skills to meet the hiring needs of employers. Several provisions of WIOA provide increased emphasis on meeting the needs of youth and people with disabilities.

The Department of Labor administers and funds WIOA initiatives. The programs supported with federal funding under WIOA that may involve payments or assistance to SSI recipients and deemors are as follows:

Any payments received under WIOA are subject to the general rules pertaining to income and income exclusions. Income received through WIOA programs are in the form of wages, stipends, and incentive payments.  Some support received under WIOA are in the form of supportive services such as childcare, transportation, medical care, meals, and other reasonable expenses, provided in cash or in-kind.

Accept the applicant, recipient, deemor, or representative payee's allegation of participation in a WIOA program and the receipt of supportive services such as childcare, transportation, medical care, meals, and other reasonable expenses, provided in cash or in-kind, unless there is reason to question the information.

Determine the type, amount, and frequency of the income the applicant, recipient, or deemor receives. Income received through WIOA programs, such as wages, stipends, incentive payments, etc., should be counted under the general rules of earned income.

Disregard any payments that represent supportive services without further development or documentation since supportive services such as those described in SI 00830.535A. of this section are assumed to be social services and not income. For more information on the exclusion of social services from income, see SI 00815.050D and SI 00815.050E.

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  SI 00815.050 - Medical and Social Services, Related Cash, and In-Kind Items

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  SI 00820.010 - In-Kind Items Provided as Remuneration for Employment

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  SI 00820.300 - Payments for Services Performed in a Sheltered Workshop or Work Activities Center

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  SI 00820.535 - Blind Work expenses

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  SI 00820.540 - Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE)

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  SI 00830.536 - Job Corps

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  SI 00830.800 - Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance to SI 00830.880 - Indian Fishing Rights Income

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  SI 00870.001- Plans to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) Overview, through SI 00870.100 - Exhibits