Y.O.U. Summer Jobs Eligibility Requirements

Click here for a pdf version of the required documents list.

Who can participate in the Y.O.U. Summer Youth Employment Program?

  • The young person must be between the ages of 14–19 and still attending high school. 14 year-olds need to be going into the 9th grade in the fall.

  • You must be a resident of Cuyahoga County.

  • You will be required to meet program eligibility requirements based on guidelines from our various funding sources.

What happens after I complete the online SYEP Application?

If the teenager’s application is selected, the parent/guardian will have to attend an eligibility determination appointment.  The parent/guardian must have the following documents at this appointment:  

1.   Proof of Family income –- See chart below for income guidelines.

  • If Parent/Guardian works: 2 most recent pay stubs*, or W2 from 2023

  • If you receive: Worker’s compensation or unemployment benefits, you will need the award letter

2.    Proof of Identity and Residence for the parent / guardian

  • Your current valid State Issued photo ID, Driver’s License, or Passport.

  • Proof of current residency in Cuyahoga County*

    • If your current residence is not listed on your Photo ID, you must provide:

      • Utility bill, government agency letter (Snap Award letter, TANF Household benefit letter, School record or letter from school) that is less than 60 days old at time of your appointment, or a lease agreement. We must have your CURRENT Address.

  • Social Security Card

3.   Documents required for the teen (who will be working in the program) – ALL following documents are required:

  • Your child’s current photo ID

    • 14 – 17 years old: School ID, School Report Card with Photo, Driver’s License, State ID, Passport, or City Rec ID

      • As of April 7, 2023, Ohioans who are 17 years and older can receive an ID card at no cost. For Ohioans who are 16 years and younger, an ID card will cost $10.00  

    • 18-19 years old: current valid state issued ID: Driver’s License, State ID, or Passport

  • Your child’s Social Security CARD (letters WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED).

  • Proof of Relationship between you and child

    • Examples: birth certificate with your name and your child’s name, school records listing current guardian, or current custody papers)

  • If child is 18 or 19 years old:

    • Copy of their current report card, letter from school or current year registration record.

      • All of these can be obtained by contacted your school.

    • If child is 18 or 19 years old AND a male, Y.O.U. will require Selective Service Registration Verification before the start of work. Currently Selective Service information is collected at Orientation.

4.   Required documents for other family members: At times, we need to add other family members who live in your household to the application to determine eligibility. Because of this, you should plan to bring the following for other household members:

  • Other minor children in your family

    • Additional child’s Birth Certificate

    • Additional child’s Social Security number (just number, not actual card)

    • Proof of relationship to that minor child

  • Other Adults in your household (i.e., adult children, partner, spouse, other adult relatives)

    • If other adults works: 2 most recent pay stubs*, or W2 from 2023

    • Date of birth

    • Social Security number (just number, not actual card)

 *DOCUMENTS MUST BE DATED WITHIN 60 DAYS OF YOUR SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT

What if I am not a US citizen? Can I still work for the Summer Jobs program?

  • If you are legally authorized to work in the United States you can participate in our Summer Jobs program.

  • You must be able to provide a valid Photo ID and a Social Security Card.

What if I am 13 now and will be turning 14 before the summer experience starts?

  • If you will be turning 14 before June 10th, you can still apply for SYEP.

  • If you turn 14 on or after June 10th, you are not eligible for SYEP this year.

Why do I need family income information?

  • Much of our funding is tied to certain eligibility criteria, including family income. Most of our available jobs require family income to be below a certain threshold.

What are the income requirements for eligibility?

  • Most of our funding, 75% or more, to pay for wages, is designated for families that are at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Thresholds. See the chart for the thresholds for 2024.

  • Every year, we do have additional funding sources available, so if you/your parent/guardian was invited to this step you should still attend the Intake. It’s a definite no if you do not attend and there is a strong possibility if you do.

  • Additional funding is not considered until an applicant is first denied our primary funding due to income.

    • The availability of funding changes from hour to hour, so Y.O.U. will not be able to tell you if there is other funding available until you are completing your Intake appointment.

The Intake/Eligibility appointment takes place while I am at school. Should we reschedule?

  • As long as your parent/guardian can attend, you do not need to attend. Youth applicants are encouraged to stay at school and have their parent/guardian complete the intake appointment. They just have to bring your documents along.

The Intake appointment time I was provided does not work/no longer works for my parent/guardian. What do we do?

  • Our online scheduler sends automatic reminders as the appointment gets closer. You can use the link within that email to reschedule to a date/time that works better.

  • You can also call our Call Center at 216-776-3900 and request they reschedule.

  • There are only so many spots available for reschedule, so try to do this sparingly or you could miss out on the opportunity.

If my parents are divorced and I live with one parent during the school year and my other parent during the summer, who needs to complete the appointment?

  • The parent who you will be living with during the summer (i.e., the period you are working) should complete the Intake Appointment.

What if I am living with someone other than my parent/guardian? Who attends the Intake Appointment?

  • Only a parent, step-parent or other authorized legal guardian is able to attend the appointment.

    • If are temporarily living with an authorized legal guardian you must provide proof of guardianship such as a court order, school or medical record indicating named guardianship, or a notarized statement from parent.

  • If the adult attending the appointment is listed as a guardian on any official documentation (government letters, school records, medical records) that will suffice for proof of relationship and they can attend the appointment.

My current guardian does not have all my required documents and my parent will not provide them. What do I do?

  • There is some verification that is absolutely required by our funders or for legal purposes as an Employer of Record. There may not be anything that Y.O.U. can do to help in this situation.

  • Please contact our Call Center at 216-777-3900 and they can submit a Ticket on your behalf and a member of the Intake or Compliance Team can contact you to obtain more details and discuss possible options.

Can my step-parent attend the appointment for me?

  • If step-parent can prove their relationship to you and prove you reside in the same household, they can attend the appointment.

  • All adults in your household will need to provide income information.

  • For example, if your step-parent is attending the appointment, they could bring youth’s birth certificate which shows relationship to parent, marriage certificate which shows relationship between step-parent and parent, and income for both parent and step-parent (if both are working).

  • If the step-parent attending the appointment is listed as a guardian on any official documentation (government letters, school records, medical records) that will suffice for proof of relationship.

What If my parent/guardian is not available? Can I complete the appointment myself?

  • No. A parent/guardian must attend the scheduled Intake Apppointment.

  • To be eligible for the Summer Jobs Program you must be a minor enrolled in high school. If you are a minor you are unable to sign consents and permission forms or represent your household.

  • 18 and 19 year olds still enrolled in high school are considered minors for our program requirements. Therefore, your parent/guardian must complete the appointment.

My parent/guardian cannot get out of work to attend the appointment, what do I do?

  • A parent/guardian must sign consents and permissions on your behalf, so there may not be anything Y.O.U. can do in this case.

  • Please contact our Call Center at 216-777-3900 and they can submit a Ticket on your behalf and a member of the Intake or Compliance Team can contact you to obtain more details and discuss possible options.

If my parent/guardian is married, does my other parent or step-parent need to attend the appointment?

  • No. Only one parent/guardian is required to complete the appointment.

    • The parent/guardian attending must bring income information, social security number, and birthdate for the other parent and any other adults in the household.

My parent/guardian refuses to attend this appointment. What do I do?

  • A parent/guardian must sign consents and permissions on your behalf, so there may not be anything Y.O.U. can do in this case.

  • Please contact our Call Center at 216-777-3900 and they can submit a Ticket on your behalf and a member of the Intake or Compliance Team can contact you to obtain more details and discuss possible options.

Can a parent/guardian submit documents and sign forms online?

  • We maintain paper files throughout this process and our organization incurs additional costs for electronic filing, so ideally all documents are submitted in person during the Intake Appointment.

  • Please contact our Call Center at 216-777-3900 and they can submit a Ticket on your behalf and a member of the Intake or Compliance Team can contact you to obtain more details and discuss possible options.

I am in Foster Care. Can my Foster parent complete the Intake Appointment?

  • Yes. If they provide proof of foster relationship and proof they are authorized to sign permissions on your behalf at the time of the appointment. They will also need to provide all the required documents to complete the appointment, include proof of income.

  • In most cases, it is more efficient to have the JFS Case Worker complete the Intake Appointment as they can often provide a letter from Cuyahoga County authorizing eligibility for funding so we do not have to determine household eligibility again.

  • Your foster parent should consult with the JFS Case Worker to determine who will attend.

Will I need a work permit to be determined eligible?

  • If you are 14 or 15 years old and you are offered a position in the Summer Jobs Program, you will need a Work Permit.

    • The HOW TO GET A WORK PERMIT instruction manual and an Application for Minor Work Permit will be given to the PARENT/GUARDIAN (at their Intake Appointment) upon approval for the Summer Jobs Program.

      • Be advised that the Work Permit process can be lengthy and requires getting a physical exam at your family’s expense and having your physician sign off on their part of our WORK PERMIT application.

      • THE WORK PERMIT APPLICATION IS PRE-SIGNED BY Y.O.U as the Employer of record which is why it is not provided until after the Intake Appointment is completed.

        • Please do not use the blank work permit applications given by your child’s school or from online.

    • A completed Work Permit (Age and Schooling Certificate) must be turned in at Y.O.U. Orientation.

  • Check out the FAQs about Work Permits to learn more.

How can I get more information?

  • If you have questions regarding our Summer Youth Employment Program or need assistance with registration, please contact the Call Center at 216-776-3900. Hours are Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM