WIOA Title I-A & I-B Policy & Procedure Manual
Ch. 10) Youth Program

10.6 Youth Incentive Payments

Table of Contents 

10.6.3 Activities that Local WDBs Cannot Incentivize

Effective date: September 4, 2018

Revision date: August 26, 2021

Local WDBs cannot use WIOA funds for incentives to motivate activities that are not directly tied to work experience, education, or training-related program milestones. Prohibited activities include those related to recruitment, submitting eligibility documentation, and participating in the program.¹ Specific examples of activities for which local WDBs cannot use WIOA funds to provide incentive payments include:

• Enrolling in WIOA Youth Program services
• Referring a friend to the WIOA Youth Program
• Providing documentation/information for program eligibility
• Attending career counseling sessions or career awareness activities
• Choosing a career pathway
• Communicating/keeping in touch with Youth Program staff
• Participating in services
• Researching Labor Market Information (LMI) data
• Completing financial literacy education activities, including completion of a budget
• Completing a wellness plan
• Completing driver's education for a regular (non-commercial) driver's license or earning a regular (non-commercial) driver's license²

Local WDBs may leverage non-WIOA funds for incentives that WIOA cannot fund.

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• ¹TEGL 21-16, p.10
• ² Guidance received during US DOL Youth-State Liaisons Call on 07/20/21. DOL Federal Project Officer advised that WIOA funds may not be used to incentivize obtaining a driver's license; the license itself is the incentive.