The background of this policy is in Public Law 109-365 Sec. 502A(1)(C). Eligible individuals participate in this program for an average of 27 months. If deemed necessary, the duration can be extended to a maximum of 48 months.
When an individual is selected for enrollment, the length of time a SCSEP participant is in training with the SCSEP depends upon his/her goals as represented in the Individual Employment Plan (IEP). If a SCSEP participant is not engaged in meeting the goals of the IEP or with job search activities, there is cause for exit from the program. The IEP lists written action steps the participant will take to find employment off the program. The actions may include stated skills to be learned, businesses/companies where they will put job applications, etc.
Each case is handled case by case. Participants' IEPs will be reviewed based on their performance and circumstances. Reviews will be consistent and fair for all participants. The maximum enrollment for all participants is no longer than 48 months. Shorter durational limits may be established in accordance with each Trainee's IEP. If at this time it appears that the participant needs additional training time, then a waiver will be written at that time to extend participation for another year (see CHANGE). See waiver factors for Durational Limit below.
CHANGE
In reviewing budgets, slot reductions, discussions with the majority of SCSEP sub-grantees, and other situations that has arisen in terms of the 48 month waiver, a decision has been made that Minnesota has reconsidered the 48 month durational limit and has chosen to ‘NOT APPROVE” a participant beyond the 48 month durational limit, and has chosen not to allow waivers beyond the 48 months effective NOVEMBER 1, 2011. Below is a link to a sample letter to be used for the participants and host agencies. Those individuals who have already been given waivers before the November 1, 2011 deadline were allowed to continue on the program for only one additional year.
In the future, if Minnesota were to accept the 48-month Durational Limit Waiver, then the follow characteristics would need to be considered. If a participant possesses any of the following seven (7) characteristics, the participant would be eligible for a waiver for durational limit. You may update five of the seven characteristics listed below at any point when the participants' conditions change during enrollment and you become aware of them.
Waiver factors that can be updated: have a severe disability; frail; are old enough for but not eligible to receive Social Security Title II retirement benefits; 75 years of age or older; Limited English Proficiency (LEP).
Waiver factors that cannot be updated after initial enrollment: have low literacy skills; have low employment prospects.
On the waiver of the 48-month lifetime durational limit, the elements that could be updated are located on the Participant Form (see link below) in fields 51-57 in SPARQ with the fields for recertification. Those fields are as follows: Have a Severe Disability; Frail; are old enough for but not eligible to receive Social Security Title II retirement benefits; have severely limited employment prospects and live in an area of persistent unemployment; 75 years of age or older; Limited English Proficiency (LEP); or Low Literacy skills.
Program providers are to ensure that all SCSEP activities conform to the regulations and any subsequent Federal or State issued bulletin or policy.