Senior Community Service Employment Program |
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Recognizing the difficulties faced by older workers struggling to obtain training and employment experiences, the United States Congress, as part of the Older Americans Act, authorized a training program known as the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP). The United States Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration administers the program, which is available only to low-income persons over the age of 54. Funds are allocated in proportion to each state's proportion of eligible citizens.
Administering agencies, which are selected through requests for grant proposals, place participants in community and government agencies doing part-time work, where the participants are paid the higher of the state or federal minimum wage. Examples of work assignments for SCSEP workers include tax counseling, library services, natural resource conservation and restoration, community beautification, weatherization, and personal assistance.
Who is Eligible?
Applicants must meet age, residency, and income guidelines to be eligible to participate in the SCSEP. First, an applicant must be at least 55 years old to qualify for participation. After basic eligibility is established, an order of priority is applied to determine participant selection. First, veterans aged 60 and older are chosen, along with their spouses. Nonveterans aged 60 and older receive second preference. Veterans between the ages of 55 and 59 are selected third, along with their spouses, and others between the ages of 55 and 59 receive last preference.
Within each of these four preference categories, the following statutory preferences are applied:
- Applicants falling below the federal poverty standard
- Applicants in the greatest need with poor prospects for employment and
- Minorities, Native Americans, and those with limited skills in the English language
What Are the Benefits of Enrollment?
The most obvious benefit is that the SCSEP provides a source of income for its participants. However, it also provides an assessment of job skills, on-the-job training, networking with potential permanent employers, the development of a positive work ethic, and meaningful contacts with community members.
For host agencies, the program provides mature workers. The SCSEP is also designed to help change negative stereotypes of older workers by demonstrating their success in working environments.
Who Administers the Program?
Several national sponsors administer the SCSEP. The largest of these is the American Association of Retired Persons Foundation. Other sponsors include Experience Works, Inc., the U.S. Forest Service, the National Caucus and Center on Black Aged, Inc., and Senior Service America, Inc..
For an organization to be an eligible host for program participants, it must either be a private nonprofit organization that qualifies for tax-exempt status or a public, governmental agency.
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