Determination of eligibility for WIOA Title I programs must be based on information gathered at, or prior to, the time of enrollment. All individuals must be determined eligible before they can participate in any Title I activities. The Local Workforce Development Board (WDB) is ultimately responsible for all eligibility determinations within each region. They may delegate the execution of that responsibility to the applicable service provider.

Self-Certification

There are limited circumstances that may warrant self-certification, as detailed below. Self-certification should only be used in circumstances where alternative documentation is unavailable. Self-certification occurs when a participant states his or her status for a particular eligibility criteria, such as pregnant or parenting youth, and then signs and dates a form acknowledging this status.

The key elements for self-certification are:

• The participant identifying his or her status for permitted criteria, and
• Signing and dating a form attesting to this self-identification.

Electronic signatures are allowable on the application in the data management system, or may be on paper and uploaded to the data management system, as applicable.  Additional paper forms and signatures verifying self-certification for eligibility criteria must be uploaded to the data management system.

Authorization for Program Participation of Minors

For purposes of authorizing a minor to participate in the WIOA Title I youth program, the signature of a parent, guardian, or other responsible adult is required.

An other responsible adult may include:

• A relative with whom the individual resides,
• An adult who has been delegated custodial or administrative responsibilities in writing, either temporarily or permanently, by parents or by an appropriate agency,
• An agency or organization representative who is in a position to know the individual's circumstances (i.e., that they could not get a parent's or guardian's signature authorizing participation), for example, a clergy person, a school teacher or other school official, a probation or other officer of the court, a foster parent,
• A representative of an agency which provided support services to the individual and who is aware of the individual's circumstances (i.e., that they cannot get a parent's or guardian's signature authorizing participation), for example, a social worker, a homeless shelter official, a child protective worker, a health clinic official; or
• Other responsible adults to be appropriate to authorize the individual's participation, as defined in policy by the Local WDB.

Eligibility documents which a minor presents on behalf of a parent or guardian (e.g. income in regards to family income) must be verified by a parent or guardian. Verification by an other responsible adult would not be acceptable.

Documentation Requirements

Documentation verifying eligibility criteria must be obtained and entered in the data management system prior to program enrollment.

Non-Eligible Individuals

Any costs associated with providing WIOA Title I services to non-eligible individuals may be disallowed.