The employment program pays for retraining and job-related services for seniors. Enrollees are placed temporarily with nonprofit organizations, where they develop job skills. Enrollees usually do not lose their pensions or Social Security benefits when they participate in the program. The foundation allows a 25 percent discount on Social Security benefits. This means that only 75 percent of Social Security is counted as income, which enables more seniors to qualify for the program.
Military disability is excluded from the discount.
The foundation gives skills tests to participating seniors to determine their abilities and areas for improvement, Bennetts said. The agency also helps with resume-writing and interview skills, and teaches seniors how to look for a job. Part of the assistance comes in the form of job placement with a nonprofit agency. The nonprofit agency gets free labor while the program participant learns new skills. Frequently, seniors are hired by the agency after the training period, which lasts from six months to one year.