Student Subsidized Employment Program ( sSEP )

1. Student Subsidized Employment Program (sSEP) Employment Assistance For Economically Disadvantaged Cooperative Education Students UPDATED 2/17/10

2. Summary of Changes As Of 2/17/10. • The program is now expanded to include qualifying students ages 16 – 20 but ceasing the end of the month prior to their 21st birthday. • All Student Subsidized Employment Program (SSEP) Certification of Eligibility forms must be mailed or scanned to email. No faxes. • The teacher-coordinator must verify free/reduced lunch participation when other question 4 alone is checked. • At The request of DHR please do not call them. Due to a limited staff, they can’t process applications and answer the phone. Email or Call Gerry Moses in the ALSDE first at 334-242-9109 or gmoses@alsde.edu .

3. Key Items Missing From FormsSubmitted To DHR • Teacher-coordinator section not complete • No parent SS# and Date of Birth • Income sections not complete or inaccurate

4. SSEP: What Is It? • Funded by Federal Stimulus Funds, it is a partnership between The Alabama Department of Human Resources and The Alabama Department of Education that provides subsidies to private employers that hire Cooperative Education students whose family income falls below federally defined income limits.

5. How Much Is The Subsidy? • Employers meeting the guidelines will be reimbursed for 100% of the employee’s gross wages, including mandatory withholdings such as the employee’s cost of FICA and taxes but excluding the employer’s costs for FICA and other mandatory taxes. • Workman’s Compensation must be purchased by the employer but is not reimbursable

6. Student Eligibility • Students between the ages of 16-20 and enrolled in an Alabama public high school. • Currently unemployed students meeting the qualifications for enrollment and currently enrolled in Career and Technical Cooperative Education programs .

7. Student Eligibility (continued) • Students eligible for DHR Family Assistance (FA) benefits and/or that meet income requirements as determined by the Alabama Department of Human Resources. • Parents or caretaker relatives must complete and submit the Student Subsidized Employment Program (SSEP) Certification of Eligibility form.

8. SSEP Guidelines (continued) • Employers may not hire an employee through this program to fill a vacant employment position if another individual is on strike/layoff from the same or equivalent job or terminate or reduce the hours of a regular employee to hire an SSEP participant.

9. SSEP Guidelines (continued) • The employee is paid wages by the employer and the student should receive the same pay and employee benefits as any other employee who is performing similar work.

10. SSEP Guidelines (continued) • This is a temporary program: • Reimbursement is eligible only until September 30, 2010. • After receipt of a signed SSEP Agreement, DHR will reimburse the student’s gross wages to the employer for the duration of the Cooperative Education placement unless the student graduates, quits or is terminated from school or the job placement or turns age 19. • Note: A student’s eligibility for SSEP ends the last day of the month prior to the month of his/her 21st birthday.

11. SSEP Guidelines (continued) • The employee should be hired to work between 15-30 hours per week. • The employer may not pay wages in cash.

12. For Reimbursement Employers Will: • Have previously submitted the SSEP Employer Agreement. • Submit a reimbursement form after the first pay period. • Attach verification of wages paid, i.e., pay stub or other payment record that clearly documents the gross pay, net pay and mandatory withholding. • Attach a copy of the W-9 form with the first request for reimbursement form that is submitted to the Alabama State Department of Human Resources (SDHR).

13. Steps In The Process • Step 1:The teacher-coordinator will provide the Student Subsidized Employment Program (SSEP) Certification of Eligibility form for completion by parents or caretaker relatives. ( • The teacher-coordinator will ensure that all information is completed. They will fully complete the teacher- coordinator verification section of the form. (Forms without this section complete or illegible can not be processed.)

14. Steps In The Process (continued) • Step 2: Students return the Eligibility form and the teacher-coordinator will mail or scan to email the form to the attention of the Family Assistance Division at the Alabama Department of Human Resources. Faxes will not be accepted. State Department of Human Resources ATTN: Family Assistance Division 50 Ripley St. Montgomery AL 36130 Email: Kelly.Lawrence@dhr.alabama.gov

15. Steps In The Process (continued) • Step 3: DHR will verify that the student is qualified for participation and notify the teacher-coordinator. • Step 4: The Cooperative Education teacher-coordinator will attempt to locate suitable training stations • Must meet the students career-objective as it relates to previously taken CTE courses. • Must be in the “Private Sector” business.

16. The Process (continued) • Step 5: The employer will complete the Student Subsidized Employment Program (SSEP) Employer Agreement. • Step 6: The teacher-coordinator will sign and fax the Employer Agreement to the attention of the Family Assistance Division at the Alabama Department of Human Resources at 334-242-0513.

17. Steps In The Process (continued) • Step 7: • Employer requests for reimbursement may be submitted by mail, email or faxed to: State Department of Human Resources ATTN: Family Assistance Division 50 Ripley St. Montgomery AL 36130 Email: Kelly.Lawrence@dhr.alabama.gov

18. Student Subsidized Employment ProgramDHRRequired Documents/Forms • SSEP Policies and Procedures • SSEP Employer Fact Sheet • SSEP Certification of Eligibility • SSEP Employer Agreement • SSEP Employer Wage Reimbursement Request

19. Where Can The Forms & PorwerBe Found • http://www.alcareerinfo.org/