SCSEP Participant Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Senior Community Service Employment Program?

The mission of the program is to assist people 55 and older in finding gainful employment. 

If you enroll in the Senior Community Service Employment Program administered by Operation A.B.L.E., you will earn the minimum wage of $7.50 per hour while assigned to an on-the-job training site in your community for 20 hours a week.

The overall goal is to help you build skills that improve your ability to find employment.  This goal is achieved through a combination of your on-the-job training experience, job counseling and other services as needed.  Operation A.B.L.E. will also offer you support, job hunting strategies and techniques, help with your resume, cover letters, and job applications, interviewing skills assistance, and other job coaching.

Who is Eligible?

SCSEP participant eligibility is determined by Federal Regulations and Department of Labor guidelines.

Age SCSEP participants must be 55 years of age or older. There is no upper age limit.

Residency To participate in Operation A.B.L.E.’s program, you must be a resident of Essex, Middlesex, Suffolk, or Worcester Counties.

Income You must have a total income of no more than 125% of the federal poverty level during the previous six months.  Sources of income considered for the purpose of determining eligibility include, but are not limited to, wages, income from owned property, Social Security benefits, interest and dividend income, etc.  Spousal income must also be considered in determining eligibility, unless you have a disability.  Contact Operation A.B.L.E. for assistance in determining your income eligibility.

Who participates in SCSEP?

Men and women with very diverse backgrounds and life experiences participate in the program.

How does the program work?

When you call us, we will answer your initial questions and discuss your eligibility. Next you will meet with an Operation A.B.L.E. staff member to complete an application and talk more about the program. 

With your Operation A.B.L.E. case manager, you’ll discuss your employment goals and barriers. You will work as a team to make a plan to attain employment and develop an Individual Employment Plan.

You will then be assigned a training site that is in line with your employment goals and objectives. Training sites must be either a not-for-profit agency or a government office by law. Every effort is made to find the right training site in your community.  You will then go to your training assignment on a regular basis.

You will meet regularly with Operation A.B.L.E. staff to work on a variety of job-finding skills, review your progress and goals, and develop realistic plans to overcome any obstacles you face.  You will also register with the One Stop Career Center in your community, if you have not already. 

How long will I be in the program?

Length of time in the program varies by individual, but generally participants stay in the program for three to nine months.  You may be transferred to another training site if your training goals have been achieved and you are still seeking employment.

What else do I need to know?

Your goals in entering this program should include commitments to:

• Upgrade your job skills and work experience through “on the job” experience providing community service.
• Seek improved employment opportunities beyond this program
• Pursue additional skill improvement though related programs and develop a comprehensive plan to do so.  (This plan is called the Individual Employment Plan, and we’ll help you create it.)
• Find unsubsidized employment, meaning a job where you are on the employer’s payroll directly. 

Contact one of the SCSEP administrative staff listed on the SCSEP description page.   We will arrange a convenient meeting time and place with you.