Legacy Link offers Senior Program

Legacy Link is the umbrella organization for 24 different programs. One of these programs assists unemployed people ages 55 and older to find employment.

The program is called the Senior Community Service Employment Program and uses part-time community service assignments for low income persons over 55 while promoting a transition to unsubsidized work.

The program is available in more than 100 counties in Georgia, including most of those in our listening area.

Laura Feagle, Regional Coordinator for the program, tells WNEG News about some of the details about how the program works.

“If you’re unemployed and age 55 and older and you happen to want to get back into the workforce, and maybe you need training in skills, this is the perfect opportunity for you. It is income-based and we do have eligibility requirements because this is a grant program through the National Council on Aging which has been given to Legacy Link for this area, and we are in all of North Georgia,” she said.

She adds, the program benefits not only the jobseeker, but the non-profit entity as well.

“This is a win-win situation because we are able to take someone who is not able to get their foot in the door in order to use their skills and give them paid training in areas such as computer skills or even job experience skills, and we’re able to do that,” she said.

Feagle adds that there are a few requirements in order to qualify for the Senior Employment Program.

“For qualifications just to call the job developer, you need to be unemployed. We actually work through the Department of Labor Wage Board, so, like if you had one job in the last six months, we’ve got a gentleman up in Rabun County, for example, that had a painting business for 25 years. This past winter was harsh and he had one job in the last year. We were able to find out through the DOL that it did not qualify as him actually working. We go back six months and [look at the] total household income,” she said.

According to Feagle, nonprofits that want to participate must meet some requirements as well.

“I think it’s very simple, and the nice part about it is, on their part, we actually cover all workmen’s comp. For the person who is 55 or older, we call them a participant rather than an employee because this is a training program, not employment. So, really all that’s needed is the supervisor has to have at least two people there at all times in case they were to fall or have an accident there would be somebody to call in. Other than that, they just have to approve their payroll. There’s really not much involved at all and it’s covering all wages and workman’s comp. There is no liability at all for them to participate,” she said.

For questions or additional information reach out to Legacy Link at 1-800-845-5465.