For those not familiar with the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, or WOTC, it is a credit that is designed to encourage employers to hire people with disabilities. Anyone with a documented physical or mental disability is eligible, and being on SSI or SSDI automatically qualifies the employer for this tax credit if they hire the person with a disability. Almost all large employers know about this tax credit and have it as part of their application package. Also, most job developers in programs for people with disabilities, parole officers and Department of Labor counselors know about this credit. But, if you are a person with a disability looking for work on your own and you apply at a small business, it helps to have the paperwork handy just in case a potential employer appears to be thinking about hiring you. It could be that little extra that could tip the scale in your favor.

What is less well known is that people who are within five years of release from prison or parole are also considered “disabled,” due to their recent criminal history, thus any employer who hires them also can get this tax credit. I feel that anybody with a prison or felony record should qualify for the WOTC, regardless of when they were released, as a criminal record is a lifelong disability regarding obtaining employment. Also, I feel that anyone over 50 should qualify for this credit, due to their poor prospects of getting hired. Plus, while currently there is a tax credit for hiring someone who is unemployed, perhaps the WOTC should also include the long term unemployed who have exhausted the Unemployment Insurance benefits in order to sweeten the pot? And, perhaps veterans should be eligible? Regardless of what side of the political aisle you’re on, almost everyone in the employment business agrees that the above groups and minorities are the groups that have been most affected by the ongoing recession. Perhaps there could even be double “coupons” for employers who hire job seekers with multiple “disabilities,” such as a veteran with a physical disability and PTSD, who is over 50 and a minority, who has a felony conviction, and is one of the long term unemployed?

Meanwhile, the government could do a far better job of letting both job seekers and employers know about the WOTC and the benefits to the employers and communities for hiring eligible workers. America won’t be able to claim that it is #1 in anything positive much longer, unless it gets more of its residents back to work. So, I ask the Republicans and Democrats to stop your endless, petty squabbling and put America back to work!