The Federal Bonding Program and Work Opportunity Tax Credit can help place hard to serve job applicants by providing employers with fidelity bonds and tax incentives. The Federal Bonding Program issues bonds free of charge to employers who hire at-risk applicants, such as those with a criminal record or substance abuse history, to insure against loss. The Work Opportunity Tax Credit provides employers a tax credit for hiring individuals from target groups. Both programs aim to facilitate employer engagement and help hard to place participants obtain employment.

1. Federal Bonding Program
and
The Work Opportunity Tax Credit

2. THESE PROGRAMS CAN…
 Help facilitate and support employer engagement
 Help place “hard to serve” participants by
 Bonding: Providing businesses with an insurance policy that
protects the employer
 WOTC: Providing the employer with an incentive to hire from
“target groups”

3. Federal Bonding Program
 The Federal Bonding Program is a unique tool
sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor
 Issues Fidelity Bonds free-of-charge to employers
who hire “at-risk” applicants to insure against loss
 Helps some hard-to-place job applicants get and
keep a job

4. FIDELITY BONDS:
What are they?
 Fidelity Bonding is insurance purchased to
indemnify employers for loss of money or property
sustained through the dishonest acts of their
employees (i.e., theft, forgery, larceny, and
embezzlement).
 At-risk applicants are usually uninsurable,
but the Federal Bonding Program makes
fidelity bonding possible, which reduces
employer risk.

5. WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR
COVERAGE BY A BOND?
 Bond coverage is provided for any person whose background usually
leads employers to question their honesty and deny them a job. The
program will cover any person who is a “risk” due to their being in
one or more of the following groups:
 Ex-offender with a record of arrest, conviction or imprisonment;
anyone who has ever been on parole or probation, or has any police
record
 Recovering substance abusers; persons rehabilitated through treatment
for alcohol or drug abuse
 Poor credit record or have declared bankruptcy
 Dishonorably discharged from the military
 Persons lacking a work history who are from families with low income

6. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 The Federal Bonding Program website:
 http://www.bonds4jobs.com/
 Call toll free:
 1-877-US2-JOBS
 Direct contact at program:
 Ron Rubin, FBP Director or Roland Brack at (202) 293-
5566
NOTE: If you wish to integrate the Federal Bonding program into your grant, please
consult with your Federal Project Officer (FPO). Your FPO can help you to determine
whether this would require a change to your Statement of Work or budget, will be
provided in accordance with sound business practices and the rates and premiums
are reasonable under the circumstances .