Operational Guidance | OG 18-2021, Change 3: Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Supportive Services Guidance
- Date: May 8, 2026
- Subject: Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Supportive Services Guidance
- From: Andrea L. DeSantis, Assistant Secretary for Workforce
Purpose:
To provide guidance on the use of WIOA funds for supportive services to eligible participants enrolled in WIOA Title I Adult, Dislocated Worker, and Youth programs.
This change provides clarification regarding when costs may be included with training or must be keyed separately as supportive services in the Integrated Fund Tracker (IFT) module in NCWorks.
This Operational Guidance (OG) rescinds OG 18-2021, Change 2 and the procedures herein supersede all previous policy, procedures, and guidelines regarding WIOA supportive services.
Background:
The WIOA defines supportive services in Sec. 3(59) as services, such as transportation, childcare, dependent care, housing, and needs-related payments, that are necessary to enable an individual to participate in activities authorized under this Act. Supportive services for Adults and Dislocated Workers are further referenced in WIOA Secs. 134(d)(2), (3) and 20 CFR §§ 680.900 through 680.970 and for WIOA eligible Youth in Section 129(c)(2)(G) and are governed by 20 CFR §§ 681.570 through 681.580.
Training and Employment Notice 06-25, issued on February 12, 2026, canceled Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) 09-22, which allowed the inclusion of supportive services expenditures as an allowable cost for the Youth Work Experience (WEX) requirement. (20 CFR § 681.590) As a result, supportive services expenditures can no longer be included in the local area’s calculation of the WIOA Youth 20 percent WEX expenditure requirement.
In addition, on a limited basis and in certain situations, food at a reasonable cost may be provided to youth program participants as a supportive service. Food may be provided to eligible youth when it will assist or enable the participant to participate in allowable youth program activities and to reach his/her employment and training goals, thereby achieving the program’s overall performance goals. Local Area Workforce Development Boards (WDBs) should have written policies and procedures in place for purchasing and distributing food to ensure consistent treatment of these types of expenses. When developing written policies and procedures, please review the Uniform Guidance at 2 CFR § 200.403.
To receive supportive services, WIOA participants must be receiving staff assisted career services and participating in employment and/or training activities. There must be a direct connection between the supportive services offered and the activity in which the participant is participating. Youth may also receive supportive services while in follow-up services (20 CFR § 681.580). The supportive services provided must be allowable, reasonable, and not otherwise available to the participant.
Supportive services are not entitlements and must be supported by the demonstration of financial need. Funds used for supportive services should be utilized in a manner that avoids duplication of services and must be leveraged with all other resources, including funding from private, community, and faith-based organizations.
Action:
Local Area WDBs and sub-recipients must comply with all federal, state, and local requirements for the provision of supportive services funded by WIOA resources. Supportive services policies and procedures must be in place that include guidance to help detect and prevent fraud, program abuse, and criminal activities.
Effective July 1, 2026, all WDBs must utilize the IFT module in NCWorks to track and manage WIOA Title I program funds including the required entry of training, work-based learning, and supportive service costs. Tuition and fees (i.e., the total cost to attend) for a given training program should be included under the training costs. All other associated costs, such as books and uniforms, should be keyed as supportive services under the corresponding service/activity code.
Local Area WDB Supportive Services policies should be updated accordingly, as applicable, to incorporate this new guidance. The Division of Workforce Solutions (DWS) encourages Local Area WDBs to work with surrounding WDBs to establish similar or consistent supportive services policies to provide consistency to customers across the state. Updated Local Area Supportive Services policies must be submitted to the DWS Planner.
All supportive services may be administered in-person or virtually and must be documented in the Individual Employment Plan (IEP), Individual Service Strategy (ISS), Objective Assessment, and NCWorks.gov case notes. When administering supportive services virtually, Local Area WDBs must place special emphasis on employing additional strategies to eliminate the possibility of fraud. Documentation to support the provision of supportive services must be uploaded in NCWorks.gov.
Local Area WDBs should distribute this guidance to all appropriate parties involved in WIOA service delivery.
Effective Date:
Immediately
Expiration:
Indefinite
Contact:
DWS Planner