PY2025 Planning Instruction and Allotments for Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) National Grantees

The U.S. Department of Labor, through its Employment and Training Administration, has issued Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) No. 16-24, Change 1, which updates the Program Year 2025 planning instructions and allotments for the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) National Grantees. This follows the earlier July 1, 2025 guidance, which covered state and territorial grantees. Together, these allocations provide a comprehensive funding structure for SCSEP in 2025, with a total of $392,941,125 distributed among national, state, and territorial grantees. Of this, $307,072,086 is specifically allotted for National Grantees. The SCSEP is authorized under the Older Americans Act and is the only federal job training program targeted specifically to low-income individuals aged 55 and older. Its purpose is to promote self-sufficiency and community engagement by placing older workers in part-time community service positions while helping them transition to unsubsidized employment. Program funds support wages and benefits, training, supportive services, and administrative functions, with restrictions ensuring that at least 75 percent of funds go to participant wages and benefits. Up to 10 percent of these funds may be reallocated toward training and supportive services with approval, while administrative expenses are capped at 13.5 percent unless a waiver is granted. Eligible applicants for this allotment are existing SCSEP National Grantees, including nonprofits and other organizations that competed in prior SCSEP funding rounds. They must submit applications through Grants.gov no later than thirty days from the publication date of this guidance, or by October 30, 2025. Applicants may choose to submit only the SF-424 form initially, but the Notice of Award will include a condition requiring full submission of other required forms, such as the SF-424A, budget narrative, programmatic assurances, and project narrative within 30 days of award notification. Required programmatic assurances certify adherence to federal law and regulations, including participant eligibility rules, host agency standards, equitable distribution, and monitoring and reporting obligations. Application packages must include detailed financial and narrative documentation. The SF-424 must include federal and non-federal cost sharing amounts, with a required minimum of 10 percent non-federal share unless an exception applies. The budget narrative must explain projected costs for each line item of the SF-424A, and the project narrative must describe organizational structure, monitoring procedures, and planned activities. Applicants must also provide programmatic assurances, relevant policies, and may include optional requests such as waivers for participant durational limits or requests to allocate additional funds for training and supportive services. The Employment and Training Administration evaluates compliance with program requirements, budget justification, and the capacity to meet performance outcomes. Grantees are expected to maintain participant durational limits, ensure equitable distribution of positions across service areas, and implement monitoring and training systems to ensure accountability and effective use of funds. Geographic service areas must be listed either within the SF-424 or in a separate attachment. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov. For technical issues, applicants may contact Grants.gov support at 800-518-4726 or 606-545-5035, or by email at support@grants.gov. Program-specific inquiries should be directed to scsep.ogm@dol.gov, and general program administration questions should go to the applicant’s Federal Project Officer. The funding guidance is continuing, with no fixed expiration, but operates under annual program year allotments, making this cycle specifically relevant to Program Year 2025.

Submit SF-424 early, use digital signatures, consult FPO on optional requests