Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP)

The Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), also known as the Mature Worker Program, was authorized by the Older Americans Act of 1965 to assist unemployed and low-income individuals 55 years or older engage in paid part-time training with public or local non-profit agencies across the state with the goal of helping them find employment.

Preference is given to individuals who are veterans, minorities, American Indians, Limited speaking individuals, and/or those with the greatest economic and employment needs.

Program participants receive supervised training in a community service assignment, either at a governmental or non-profit agency (referred to as host agencies) for an average of 19 hours per week. They will be compensated at the State’s minimum wage.

While in training, participants receive an assessment to find individual needs for training, supportive services and their potential for unsubsidized employment. Other job-related trainings shall develop and/or upgrade a participant’s existing employment skills which include job search skills, counseling, and other necessary soft skills.

Eligibility – At the time of application:

  • You must be 55 years old or older
  • You must reside in the State of Hawaii
  • You must be unemployed upon enrollment and eligible to work
  • Your family income must be at or below 125% of the federal poverty level for the calendar year. Poverty Guidelines | ASPE (hhs.gov)
  • Have one or more barriers to employment such as, but not limited to, being a veteran, have poor employment prospects, at risk of homelessness, limited English proficiency, low literacy skills, or a disability

How to Apply

Applicants seeking to enter the SCSEP training may contact their local operator in their county. There are a limited number of training positions per operator, when all positions are full your application may be placed on a waiting list. For more information please contact your local SCSEP operator.

SCSEP Operators by County

County of Hawaii:
State Department of Labor and Industrial Relations
Workforce Development Division Hilo Office
88 Kanoelehua Avenue, Suite A204
Hilo, HI 96720
Phone: (808) 981-2860
Contact: Denise Pacheco

City and County of Honolulu:
State Department of Labor and Industrial Relations
Workforce Development Division Oahu Branch
680 Iwilei Road, Suite 700
Honolulu, HI 96817
Phone: (808) 786-5701
Contact: Donna Takahashi or Kathleen Campbell

County of Kauai:
State Department of Labor and Industrial Relations
Workforce Development Division Kauai Branch
4444 Rice Street, Suite 302
Lihue, HI 96766
Phone: (808)274-3056
Contact: Fatima Gaboy

County of Maui:
Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc.
99 Mahalani Street
Wailuku, HI 96793
Phone:  (808) 249-2970
Fax:  (808) 249-2971
Contact:  Cassi Yamashita or Carmelei Leano

Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) – Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc. (meoinc.org)

Common Questions and Answers

  • Am I considered employed if start with SCSEP? SCSEP is a paid work-based training for eligible individuals.
  • What are the hours and the pay? Participants work an average of 19 hours a week at the State’s minimum wage rate which is $12.00 per hour.
  • Will participation in SCSEP impact any public benefits? SCSEP wages will not affect participants SNAP (food stamps) or your HUD housing eligibility. It may impact certain SSA benefits. All applicants/participants are encouraged to contact their benefit sources to verify how SCSEP wages affect benefits received.
  • Is there a time limit on participation in the program? Participant assignments are on average 20 – 27 months. Participants have a lifetime durational limit of 48 months as long as long as they are continuously eligible for the SCSEP.
  • What is eligibility? It is the process with which the program operator staff fact find evidence to prove that an applicant meets the program’s eligibility criteria after application. Applicants need to provide copies of proof as required for identification, age, residence, family income, and other supports for employment barriers. Once applicants are eligible and are enrolled as participants, they recertify eligibility annually or as necessary by the program operator.
  • What is a Program Operator? It is the entity/agency that is responsible for the SCSEP in your County.
  • Does SCSEP provide Worker’s Compensation insurance during my training? Every local program operator has coverage for participants in training.
  • Are participants guaranteed a permanent job after participating in SCSEP? There is no guarantee that a participant will find unsubsidized employment after completing a SCSEP assignment. A requirement of the program is that participants search for unsubsidized employment during their training. All participants should provide their program operators with documentation of proof that they are actively searching for jobs. Participation in job fairs, recruitment events, employment workshops offered by the program operator are also required of the participant.
  • What kind of training and work does SCSEP provide? Participants will be assessed for aptitude, areas of interest, skill gaps or barriers to employment to be matched with a suitable host agency based on those factors. Positions may include, but are not limited to:
    • Office Assistant / Clerk
    • Custodian / Janitor
    • Groundskeeper
    • Warehouse Worker
    • Sales Associate
    • Food Preparer
  • What is a Host Agency? They are community-based government entities or 501(c)(3) non profit organizations that SCSEP participants are assigned for work-related training. These assignments are based on the participant’s employment goals and the available training opportunity.
  • Are SCSEP participants employees of the Host Agency? Participants are not employed by the Host Agency as they are paid through the SCSEP. Participants are supervised during training by host agency personnel. Participants must abide by host agency policies while in training. There are cases where participants have been permanently hired by their host agencies.
  • Job ready individuals who are unemployed may not qualify for the SCSEP and may be referred to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Adult Program for employment assistance.

The goal of Hawaii SCSEP is to promote our participants who are unemployed older Americans as trained, qualified, and reliable candidates to business who are seeking to meet their recruitment and hiring needs. Mature workers are a valuable resource for the 21st Century Workforce. Hawaii SCSEP is committed to providing high-quality job training and employment assistance to participants.

For information pertaining to the program please contact your local provider. For other matters of SCSEP contact:

Tekawitha M. Iese
(She/Her)
Program Specialist
State Department of Labor and Industrial Relations
Workforce Development Division
[email protected]
(808)586-8819