Working in cooperation with Department for Community Based Services case managers, and other local community entities, the Department for Employment Services (DES) staff in the Kentucky Works Program assists welfare applicants and recipients to obtain employment, which leads to self-sufficiency. Incorporating a "work first" philosophy, applicants on welfare must register for employment with DES and attempt to obtain suitable employment before they are deemed eligible to receive benefits. DES staff conduct an assessment of each program participant's employability and based upon that assessment provide customized services including intensive job search assistance, job seeking skills workshops, referral to non-paid work experience, and placement 
in on-the-job training.

If you are an employer, your company may be eligible to receive incentives and tax credits when you hire a work-ready client receiving welfare.

The Kentucky Works Program Representative for Pike County is 
Julia Roberts.  Mrs. Roberts may be contacted by telephone at 606-433-7721.

Both of these Federal programs are designed to help people move from economic dependency to self-sufficiency by providing an incentive to employers in the private sector to hire from among several groups of job seekers who have consistently had the most difficulty in securing employment. This incentive is in the form of a substantial credit against income taxes owed to the Federal government.

In Kentucky, the Department for Employment Services (DES) has primary responsibility for administering the WOTC and WtW Tax Credit programs. Questions about the programs should be addressed to Barbara Gilley, State WOTC Coordinator, or other Field Support Branch staff assigned to the WOTC Program at 502-564-7456. Requests for certification and other program forms should be mailed to Ms. Gilley at the following address:

 Department for Employment Services
 Division for Field Services
 275 East Main Street, 2W 
 Frankfort KY 40621

        Work Opportunity Tax Credit:

The WOTC program is administered by the Department for Employment Services. This program provides Federal tax credits to encourage employers to hire job seekers with barriers to employment from eight targeted groups. Individuals who are: receiving Federal public assistance or food stamp benefits, SSI, vocational rehabilitation services, high-risk youth and summer youth who live in a Federal Empowerment Zone or Enterprise Community, disabled veterans or veterans receiving food stamp benefits, and ex-felons, are eligible to earn WOTC tax credits for their employers.

The amount of the tax credit varies depending upon wages paid to and the number of hours worked by the eligible employee. For each WOTC eligible employee who works 400 hours or more, the employer may claim a tax credit equal to 40% of the first $6000 of qualified wages paid, except in the case of Qualified Summer Youth Employees, for whom the tax credit is equal to 40% of the first $3000 of qualified wages paid. For those who work at least 120 hours, employers may claim a tax credit equal to 25% of the first $6000 in qualified wages paid, except in the case of Qualified Summer Youth Employees for whom the tax credit is equal to 25% of the first $3000 in qualified wages paid. An employee must work at least 120 hours in order for the employer to claim any tax credit.

The Department for Employment Services is committed to providing a qualified workforce to help businesses be more competitive in the global economy. At the same time, we need to give our citizens a chance to work, raise a family, and build a future. Some of these citizens receive public assistance. By hiring a work-ready public assistance client, your company may be eligible to receive a variety of services and incentives.

The Welfare-to-Work (WtW) Tax Credit is a tax credit for employers who hire individuals certified by DES as long-term recipients of cash welfare assistance, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF).

The Welfare-to-Work Tax Credit is equal to 35% of the first $10,000 of qualifying wages paid to a certified employee during the first year of employment and 50% of the first $10,000 in qualifying wages paid during the second year of employment, for a maximum $8500 tax credit over a two-year period. In addition, for the WtW Tax Credit, wages may include certain tax-exempt amounts relating to accident and health coverage, educational assistance programs, and dependent care assistance programs, which are not included in the definition of qualifying wages for the WOTC.

The application and certification process for the WtW Tax Credit is the same as for the WOTC. Even the forms (IRS 8850, ETA-9061,
ETA-9062, and ETA-9063) are the same. However, in order for the employer to claim the WtW Tax Credit, the employee must work for the employer at least 400 hours or 180 days. The WtW Tax Credit is coordinated with the WOTC so that employers may claim both tax credits for the same individual, but not in the same taxable year.