FAQ

WIOA stands for the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act which is designed to help job seekers access employment, education, training, and support services to succeed in the labor market. WIOA training funds are designed to serve dislocated workers, adults, and youth who are in need of training to enter or re-enter the labor market.

Career services including job search assistance are available to all customers. Training services depend upon a number of factors including WIOA eligibility, choice of training and training provider on the WorkSource Middle Georgia Eligible Training Provider List.

Adults are individuals age 18 and older who may be eligible based on family size and income.

Dislocated Workers are individuals who have been terminated or laid off, or who have received a notice of termination or layoff, from employment.

Individuals classified as Dislocated Workers:

• Has been terminated through no fault of their own or laid off or has received a notice of no-fault termination of layoff, from employment as a result of any permanent closure of, or any substantial layoff at a plant, facility or enterprise.
• Is employed at a facility at which the employer has made a general announcement that such facility will close within 180 days.
• Previously self-employed and unemployed due to natural disaster or general economic conditions.
• After layoff, have become re-employed in an income maintenance position and meets the definition of a currently employed dislocated worker.

Individuals NOT classified as Dislocated Workers:

• If a person quits/resigns work, he/she is not considered a dislocated worker.

In-School Youth are individuals aged 14-21 attending school who are eligible based on income and within one of the following categories:

• Deficient in basic literacy skills
• An English language learner
• An offender
• Homeless, a runaway, or a foster child
• Pregnant or parenting
• A youth who is an individual with a disability

An individual who Requires Additional Assistance to complete an educational program or to secure or hold employment who:

• Has poor attendance patterns in an educational program during the last 12 calendar months; or
• Has been expelled from school within the last 12 calendar months; or
• Has been suspended from school within the last 12 calendar months; or
• Has below average grades; or
• Has previously been placed in out-of-home care (foster care, group home, or kinship care) for more than 6 months between the ages of 14-21; or
• Currently has an incarcerated parent(s)/guardian

Out-of-School Youth are individual’s aged 16-24 not attending school who are eligible based on income and within one of the following categories:

• A school dropout
• A youth who is within the age of compulsory school attendance, but has not attended school for at least the most recent complete school year calendar quarter
• A recipient of a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent who is basic skills deficient, or an English language learner
• An individual who is subject to the juvenile or adult justice system
• A homeless individual, a runaway, or foster child
• Pregnant or parenting
• An individual with a disability

An individual who Requires Additional Assistance to enter or complete an educational program or to secure or hold employment who:

• Has dropped out of a post-secondary educational program during the past 12 calendar months; or
• Has a poor work history, to include no work history, or has been fired from a job in the last 6 calendar months; or
• Has previously been placed in out-of-home care (foster care, group home, or kinship care) for more than 6 months between the ages of 16-21; or
• Currently has an incarcerated parent(s)/guardian.

After you are determined eligible for an Individual Training Account (ITA) and have completed the Tests of Adult Basic Education (TABE) and the Career Choices Assessment, every effort is made to help you begin as soon as possible.

Please note: community college classes are scheduled by semester. Application deadlines are many weeks earlier than actual class start dates.

You must meet the definition of Adult, Dislocated Worker or Youth as outlined in Question 3 and provide proof of:

• Citizen/or Legal Alien
• Social Security Number
• 18 years old or older
• Selective Service Registration (Males only, born on or after 1/1/1960)

Dislocated workers also need to provide:

• Notice of layoff or no-fault termination notice
• Verification of unemployment insurance status (Claims Determination letter)
• Job search records (can use copies of records submitted to U.I.)

For currently employed dislocated workers eligibility documentation may include tax return information (up to 2 yrs) validating an income decrease.

Yes. You will be given a special claimant trainee status while you’re in an approved training program. This means that you may continue to receive unemployment insurance while you are in full-time training (full-time as defined by the school).

Please note that you may exhaust unemployment insurance before you finish training if you select a training program longer than your employment benefits are scheduled to last.

Do not attend classes or pay in advance for any training that you expect to be paid for by WIOA funding until your training plan is complete, signed and approved by your Career Advisor. You will be required to apply for PELL and any other available Grants before WIOA funds can be applied.

Schools and training programs must be on the WorkSource Middle Georgia’s Eligible Training Provider List. To view a list of approved occupational training programs, visit www.worksourcegaportal.com.  Not all schools or programs on the ETPL are approved by WorkSource. Totally online programs are not generally approved.

Presently skills training is only provided for occupational specific jobs and careers where hourly rates and salaries are paid. Totally commission, fee-based careers such as real estate, cosmetology, massage therapy, and nail technicians are not approved for funding.

If you wish to pursue one of the above careers, additional sources for financial aid are available.

Short-term certification and exam preparation courses are offered based on individual need. There are also limits on the amount of funding available for training ($11,000 for up to two years of training).

Please note there are careers in education, information technology, accounting, healthcare and truck driving in which a person with a criminal background will not be hired. Information on the specific careers and the regulations regarding career certification is available in the Career Resource Center. WorkSource Middle Georgia will not fund training in any area where a person cannot expect to be employed full-time.

WIOA funded programs may be approved for up to 2 years. Programs should not exceed 104 weeks (2 years). Exceptions to this policy may be approved on a case-by-case basis and requests should include evidence that financial support is available during extended training periods.

Yes! Keep in mind WIOA only assists with one (1) program of study. Your choice is documented at the time of intake/application, and on your Individual Employment Plan.

Customers are required to communicate any and all curriculum changes, or personal situations that may impact their program completion to their Career Facilitator. Concerns of this nature are handled on a case-by-case basis.

A background check and drug screen may be required and will be provided for individuals enrolling in WOIA training programs prior to training enrollment, such as truck driving, healthcare and education.

Yes, a Career Facilitator will be assigned to work with you throughout your training and until you find a job. Career Facilitators can help you research labor market information, provide interest and aptitude assessments, schedule computerized self-help inventories and a variety of tools to assist you in planning your career. You should inform your Career Facilitator when you are having problems, either personal or academic, which may interfere with training.

Yes! We have experienced Career Facilitators who can help you research labor market information, provide interest and aptitude assessments, schedule computerized self-help inventories and access a variety of tools to assist you in planning your next career move.

Yes! Priority will be given to Veterans and eligible spouses (Jobs for Veterans Act PL107-288).

Contact the Selective Service System, www.sss.gov or 1-888-655-1825 to request a Status Information Letter. Your Career Facilitator can help walk you through this process.

WIOA Orientation is available every Friday at the American Job Center/One-stop.  For more information please call (478) 953-4771 and ask to speak to a WIOA representative.

The Consortium is a local workforce development system that seeks to be a community resource and positive influence for the benefit of the community.

The Consortium exists to improve the labor market success of Middle Georgians by paying tuition and fees for qualified individuals participating in classroom training and On-the-Job training (OJT) activities.

The Middle Georgia Consortium Inc. service area is composed of 11 counties which are: Baldwin, Crawford, Houston, Jones, Macon-Bibb, Monroe, Peach, Pulaski, Putnam, Twiggs and Wilkinson.  The Consortium provides workforce development services to residents of our area who qualify.

Visit the how to apply page to get started or just call us at 478-953-4771.

Those directly linked to employment opportunities (“occupational specific” programs) such as

• Diploma programs at technical colleges
• Associate level programs in most health service areas
• Bachelor’s level programs in selected majors

• Students accepted at local post-secondary institutions
• College Juniors & Seniors
• College students in Health Services associate programs
• Students who can complete training in 2 years
• Students in good standing (2.5 GPA+)
• Full-time students (12 credit hours +)
• Low income, laid off or receiving TANF and/or SNAP
• Middle Georgia area residents in the ten (11) counties we service.

Yes, for certain post-secondary programs (nursing, radiology, respiratory therapy, etc.) at technical colleges, you must have your core classes completed and have already been accepted into your program of study. For four-year colleges and universities, you must have completed two (2) years toward your major and be classified as a junior or higher in your major.

Click on the following link to access this form:

Initial Assessment Form (PDF)