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About SCSEP

SCSEP participant contributes to the reading experience of daycare children. Copyright Mark DeLong 2005
SCSEP participant contributes to the reading experience of day care children.
Lawrence finds his SCSEP assignment as a high school security officer to be challenging and rewarding. Copyright Mark DeLong 2005
Lawrence finds his SCSEP assignment as a high school security officer to be challenging and rewarding.

Program Description: The Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) is a community service and work based training program for older workers. Authorized by the Older Americans Act, the program provides subsidized, service-based training for low-income persons 55 or older who are unemployed and have poor employment prospects. Participants have access to both SCSEP services and other employment assistance through One-Stop Career Centers.

Goal: SCSEP provides both community services and work-based training. Participants work an average of 20 hours a week, and are paid the highest of federal, state or local minimum wage. They are placed in a wide variety of community service activities at non-profit and public facilities, including day-care centers, senior centers, schools and hospitals. It is intended that community service training serves as a bridge to unsubsidized employment opportunities; SCSEP's goal is to place 30% of its authorized positions into unsubsidized employment annually.




Franke's office setting assignment provides the opportunity to strengthen her computer and administrative skills. Copyright Mark DeLong 2005

Franke's office setting assignment provides the opportunity to strengthen her computer and administrative skills.

Available Services: Services available through the SCSEP program for assisting older workers are:

  • Community Services - the program provides over 40 million community service hours to public and non-profit agencies, allowing them to enhance and provide needed services
  • Participant Services - Individual Employment Plan (IEP) development, orientation, community service placement, training specific to community service assignment, other training as identified in the IEP, supportive services, wages, fringe benefits, annual physicals, assistance in securing unsubsidized employment, and access to local One-Stop Career Centers.

Eligible Participants: Eligible Participants: Program participants must be at least 55, unemployed, and have a family income of no more than 125% of the federal poverty level.

Program Funding: SCSEP is currently funded at approximately $450 million. All funds are allocated by a formula; 22% of funds are allocated among states and territories, and 78% to national organizations that compete to provide services.

Grantees: There are currently 74 grantees. Grant awards are made to 18 national nonprofit organizations and 56 units of state and territorial governments. States often sub-grant with Area Agencies on Aging or community-based organizations to operate local projects.

Number of Participants:46,103 authorized positions are funded for the current program year (PY 2011).

Sadie has gained valuable computer skills through her participation in SCSEP. Copyright Mark DeLong 2005
Sadie has gained valuable computer skills through her participation in SCSEP.

Performance Data:For PY 2010(ending June 30, 2011), SCSEP had the following performance indicators:


  • Total number of enrolled participants: 105,851
  • Unsubsidized placement: 47%
  • Service rate: 139.1%
  • Female: 64%
  • Minorities: 51%
  • At or below poverty level: 89%

For Further Information regarding SCSEP programs in your area: contact your local One-Stop Career Center through the Toll-Free Help Line at 1-877-US2-JOBS (1-877-872-5627), click on America's Service Locator.