Frequently Asked Questions:
SYEP 2026

→  What is SYEP?

SYEP, or the Summer Youth Employment Program, is a paid career readiness program that runs from July - August. SYEP has two tracks depending on age:

• Younger Youth (YY): Participants ages 14 - 15 on 7/1/26 participate in Project-Based Learning and can earn up to a $700 stipend.

• Older Youth (OY): Participants ages 16 - 24 on 7/1/26 work at an internship and can earn up to 25 hours of minimum wage for 6 weeks.

To participate, youth must:

• Be between the ages of 14 and 21 on July 1st, 2026*

• Reside in one of the 5 boroughs of New York City

• Currently attend a CareerREADY High School (CareerREADY SYEP only)

• Be legally allowed to work in the U.S.

• Submit SYEP required enrollment forms and documents

Spots are limited and youth are enrolled first come, first serve according to the forms and documents turned in.

*Youth ages 22 - 24 may still be eligible for a non-CareerReady SYEP initiative. Please contact the provider of your choice to check your eligibility.

→  How much can I earn from SYEP?

SYEP Older Youth (OY) Participants can earn $17/hr. OY Participants can work up to 25 hours each week for 6 weeks.

SYEP Younger Youth (YY) Participants can earn up to a $700 stipend. YY Participants are assigned 12.5 hours of work each week for 6 weeks.

To earn full payment, all hours must be worked.

→  How many hours do I have to work for SYEP?

SYEP Older Youth (OY) Participants can work up to 25 hours each week for 6 weeks.

SYEP Younger Youth (YY) Participants can work up to 12.5 hours each week for 6 weeks.

Any additional hours worked past the hours allotted will not be paid out.

→  Is SYEP online? When and where does SYEP take place?

Exact days, times, and locations for SYEP are pending and will vary between participants. Details will be emailed to participants shortly after their enrollment.

SYEP Orientation will occur before the program begins.

SYEP Cohort A begins July 6th, 2026 and ends August 15th, 2026. Cohort A is for Older Youth only - all Younger Youth will automatically be assigned to Cohort B.

SYEP Cohort B begins July 13th, 2026 and ends August 22nd, 2026. Cohort B is an option for Older Youth. Younger Youth will automatically be assigned to Cohort B.

→  How do I know if I am eligible for SYEP?

You must:

• Be between the ages of 14 and 24 on July 1st, 2026

• Reside in one of the 5 boroughs of New York City

• Currently attend a CareerReady High School (CareerReady SYEP only)

• Be legally allowed to work in the U.S.

• Submit SYEP required enrollment forms and documents

*Youth ages 16 - 24 may still be eligible for a non-CareerReady SYEP initiative. Please contact the provider of your choice to check your eligibility.

You may also view the requirements on the SYEP 2026 Online Application site: https://application.nycsyep.com/

If you are still unsure, please contact your provider to verify your eligibility, application status, and your next steps.

→  I graduated from high school last semester, can I still do SYEP?

As long as you live in NYC, can legally work in the US, and will be between 14 - 24 on July 1st, 2026 - you can do SYEP. However, high school graduates are not eligible for CareerREADY SYEP.

→  I am 13 now but turn 14 shortly after July 1st, can I still do SYEP?

Unfortunately no, you must be between the ages of 14 and 24 on the age cut off date of the program: July 1st, 2026.

→  I am 15 now but turn 16 shortly after July 1st, can I do SYEP as an Older Youth?

No - since you will be 15 on the age cut off date of the program: July 1st, 2026, you can participate in SYEP as a Younger Youth participant.

→  I am missing a required document, can I still do SYEP?

Under most circumstances, youth must present all required documents before their provider can enroll them. Due to limited spots, youth are enrolled first come, first serve according to the documentation & forms turned in.

There are SYEP initiatives that do not require the usual documents, but have other eligibility requirements. Please contact us if you are unable to acquire one or more of the required documents.

→  What does the work authorization question on the application mean?

Work authorization is connected to your U.S. citizenship status. Always ask your parent/guardian for confirmation, but please see more information below and ask your provider if you are still unsure.

• Not Applicable; U.S. Citizen: If you were born in the United States, you automatically have U.S. citizenship. Even if you were born outside of the U.S., you may have obtained U.S. citizenship. You should have at least one document verifying this, such as a U.S. Birth Certificate, U.S. Passport (unexpired), or Certificate of Naturalization.

• Applicable; USCIS Document Available: If you are not a U.S. citizen, but have a permanent resident card, employment authorization card, Form I-94, or other document issued by USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services), please select this option.

• Other: Only select this option if you are a noncitizen National of the U.S..

→  How can I verify my provider received my application?

Please go to (https://application.nycsyep.com/Home/StatusLogin) and enter your SYEP 2026 application ID (a 7-digit number). If your application was successfully submitted, you'll receive the following information:

• Your provider's name: HANAC Inc.

• The status of your application: Submitted to a Provider (Complete), Selected, OR Enrolled

If you do not receive this information, your application was NOT turned in or you do not have the correct ID. Please email your provider and let them know your application ID and what email you used to apply. This information will help them locate your application and get you started on the next steps.

→  What do the different application statuses mean?

Complete: Your application is submitted and your provider has access to review it, but it has not been selected and you cannot turn in the required forms and documents. If your provider determines you are eligible for the program, your application will be selected. Please keep in mind that this is only the case with CareerREADY programs: Community-Based programs implement a lottery (random) selection process.

Selected: Your application is turned in and your provider has selected it, giving you access to turn in the required forms and documents on the Participant Site (https://participant.yepsonline.org/). Your spot in the program is not yet secured.

Enrolled: Your application is turned in, your forms and documents have been reviewed by your provider and determined valid, and your provider has enrolled you in the program. Your spot in the program is secured (provided that you complete the remaining pre-program steps, such as attending orientation).

→  How much can I earn from SYEP?

SYEP Older Youth (OY) Participants can earn $17/hr. OY Participants can work up to 25 hours each week for 6 weeks.

SYEP Younger Youth (YY) Participants can earn up to a $700 stipend. YY Participants are assigned 12.5 hours of work each week for 6 weeks.

To earn full payment, all hours must be worked.

→  How many hours do I have to work for SYEP?

SYEP Older Youth (OY) Participants can work up to 25 hours each week for 6 weeks (a total of 150 hours).

SYEP Younger Youth (YY) Participants can work up to 12.5 hours each week for 6 weeks (a total of 75 hours).

Any additional hours worked past the hours allotted will not be paid out.

Enrolled Participants Only
→  When do I get paid?

The pay cycle for SYEP 2026 is pending.

Enrolled Participants Only
→  Do I have to sign up for direct deposit again if I already signed up during SYEP 2026?

Yes! You must sign up for direct deposit with each program cycle. Direct Deposit sign-ups do not carry over after a program has ended.

The deadline for Direct Deposit sign up for SYEP 2026 is pending, but you can sign up on the Participant Site once you've been enrolled. If you do not sign up for direct deposit, you will issued a payroll card. Instructions for payroll card pick-up will be emailed to you shortly after the program begins.

Enrolled Participants Only
→  I cannot/don't want to sign up for direct deposit, what are my options?

Youth who do not sign up for direct deposit will be issued a payroll card. Instructions for payroll card pick-up will be emailed to you shortly after the program begins.

Enrolled Participants Only
→  I didn't get paid the correct amount, what should I do?

If you are a Younger Youth participant missing pay, please contact your facilitator ASAP.

If you are an Older Youth participant missing pay, please contact your worksite monitor ASAP.

There is a deadline to contact your provider for missing pay, shortly after the paycheck for the final week of the program.

Enrolled Participants Only
→  I lost my payroll card, what should I do?

Please contact your provider and explain that you received your payroll card, but have lost it. Your provider will send you the instructions to receive a new card. Please expect to receive your card or a replacement card in up to 3 weeks (or 15 business days) after your provider responds.

→  What is Project-Based Learning?

Project-Based Learning is a series of sessions and activities led by the SYEP provider. Participants learn about career opportunities and design projects to make a difference in their communities. Topics covered in previous years of Project-Based Learning included Business/Entrepreneurship and Mental Health & Wellness.

→  Is Project-Based Learning in-person or online?

Project-Based Learning will contain online and in-person activities. The locations for in-person activities will be covered in orientation.

Enrolled Participants Only
→  What will my Project-Based Learning schedule look like?

Younger Youth participants will complete a total of 12.5 hours of Project-Based Learning sessions and activities each week. Exact schedules for Project-Based Learning are still pending, but enrolled Younger Youth participants can expect to receive their schedule via email by June.

→  Are internships in-person or online?

Internships are in-person, remote, or hybrid (remote and in-person days). Remote and hybrid internships require laptop/desktop access and internet connection.

→  What internships does SYEP offer?

SYEP internships are in the retail, restaurant, marketing, educational services, childcare, healthcare, and engineering industries.

Enrolled Participants Only
→  Can I pick my internship?

Yes! Before the program begins, your provider will conduct job placement for enrolled Older Youth participants. Please check your emails regularly to find out when/how job placement will occur. You must pick your internship before the program begins or risk losing the opportunity to work all allotted hours (25 hours each week for 6 weeks).

Enrolled Participants Only
→  What will my internship schedule look like?

Older Youth participants can work up to 25 hours each week for 6 weeks. Exact schedules for internships are determined by worksite supervisors, so participants may not find out their schedule until the first week of the program.

Enrolled Participants Only
→  Can I change my internship during the program?

Requests to change internships can be accommodated on a case-by-case basis. If your request is accepted, please expect to wait approximately one week before working at your new internship.