Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must be at least 16 years of age and out of school and a NYS resident prior to enrollment date. US citizens and non-citizens (immigration status is not taken into consideration) may apply. applicants must meet both the academic and income eligibility requirements to receive services and for admission into EOC programs. In the instance of the High School Equivalency (GED Preparation) program, there are no income guidelines. Some vocational/career training programs require possession of a High School or HSE (High School Equivalency) diploma. All applicants are provided with a placement assessment on the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE test) that will measure reading and math skills levels. These skills are associated with program entry requirements or placement in the appropriate level of study.

All applicants must complete the Applicant Information Form (AIF) and complete the assessment, in addition to providing requested income documentation, as applicable. All applicants participate in a program interview before admissions is confirmed. Attendance as an enrolled student in a program Orientation is also required.

Documentation of the following items related to the following circumstances, as applicable, must be submitted and reviewed before EOC eligibility can be determined:

Residency

To be eligible for enrollment, applicants must live in New York State. Acceptable forms of documentation to support residency eligibility are listed, but are not limited to those below:

New York State driver’s license

New York State non-driver’s photo ID

New York State vehicle registration

New York State voter registration

New York State deed

New York State lease (apartment or automobile)

New York State postmarked mail over twelve-month period

New York State tax return

New York State or local agency documentation

The residency requirement does not refer to US Citizenship, permanent residency or immigration status, albeit pertinent documentation is required for New York State residency.

Economic Eligibility

Economic eligibility is determined by income and household size.

Income means all taxable and nontaxable funds that are received by the household for general use and may be derived from sources such as wages, dividends, interest, Social Security, disability pensions, insurance settlements, veterans’ benefits, and unemployment benefits.

With regard to these economic guidelines, household is defined per the US Census as:

“A household consists of all the people who occupy a housing unit. A house, an apartment or other group of rooms, or a single room, is regarded as a housing unit when it is occupied or intended for occupancy as separate living quarters; that is, when the occupants do not live with any other persons in the structure and there is direct access from the outside or through a common hall”.

A household includes the related family members and all the unrelated people, if any, such as lodgers, foster children, wards, or employees who share the housing unit. A person living alone in a housing unit, or a group of unrelated people sharing a housing unit such as partners or roomers, is also counted as a household. “

All economic eligibility criteria apply to the calendar year prior to the year of first entry to the EOC unless the applicant’s income during the year of enrollment is low enough to qualify for admission, though prior year income may exceed the guidelines. In these instances, the change in income must result from a documentable incident that is anticipated to have a long-term effect such as that of a dislocated worker (i.e., factory closing, loss of a spouse, physical disability).

INCOME GUIDELINES DO NOT APPLY IF:

  • The student’s family is the recipient of Family Assistance or Safety Net payments through the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance; or through a county Department of Social Services; or Family Day Care payments through the New York State Office of Children and Family Assistance.
  • The student is in foster care as established by the court.
  • The student is a ward of the state or county.

Acceptable forms of documentation to support economic eligibility include:

  • Documentation of all earned income, dividends and interest: Signed copies of appropriate year’s tax return (IRS forms 1040, 1040A, or 1040EZ; or 4506-T).
  • Documentation of no income: a copy of IRS form 4506-T which has been filed by the student or family with the Internal Revenue Service or a copy of IRS Letter 1722 indicating that the student (if independent) or parent did not file a return.
  • Documentation of pension, annuity, or unemployment benefits: letter from the applicable agency showing appropriate year’s total award (if not reported on IRS forms 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ or 1099).
  • Documentation of Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, or Veterans Administration non-educational benefits: a letter from the applicable agency showing applicable year’s total award for each member of the household including Medicare premiums or IRS form 1099 for each member of the household.
  • Documentation of social services payments or projected budget from DSS/HRA showing year that benefits were received and names of recipients including the applicant.
  • Documentation of child support and/or alimony: a court order or affidavit or other documentation that proves such payments.
  • Documentation of additional members in household: birth certificates, marriage certificates, third-party verification, along with proof of income or lack of income for each member.

Economic eligibility criteria are waived for those individuals who lack a high school diploma. However, enrollment for this group of individuals is limited to Foundational and/or High School Equivalency Preparation programs.

Educational (Academic) Eligibility

It is the responsibility of the EOC to verify that all applicants/students are academically eligible and that the appropriate documentation to verify this eligibility is obtained. High School or High School Equivalency diplomas are required for specific programs.

Acceptable forms of documentation to support academic eligibility include, but are not limited, to:

  • Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) scores (required)
  • High School Equivalency Diploma
  • High School Diploma
  • High School discharge documentation
  • High School transcript or official high school records
  • College transcript
  • College dismissal letters
  • Letters from employers or agencies citing the need for remediation or the
  • acquisition of job skills for incumbent workers.

Questions concerning educational eligibility or ineligibility are confined to the Admissions staff. If there are questions or concerns related to eligibility, please contact the Queens EOC by calling 718-725-3320 or it is preferred that applicants visit the Queens EOC on the following days: Monday – Wednesday, 9:30 – 2:00 PM; Thursdays, 2:00 – 4:30 PM. The Queens EOC is located at 158-29 Archer Avenue, Jamaica, NY (above the MTS Station on Parsons Blvd. & Archer Avenue). Or, visit Virtual Zoom Admissions, Monday – Wednesday, 2:00 – 4:30 PM; Thursdays, 9:30 AM – 2:00 PM and Fridays, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM. Please use this convenient link: https://queenseoc.net/virtual-admissions-office/