TAA Program Benefits and The Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC) Program

On October 21, 2011, President Obama signed the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Extension Act of 2011, which changes the group eligibility requirements, and individual benefits and services available under the Trade Adjustment Assistance program, for some workers.

Petitions Filed after February 12, 2011 and before October 21, 2011
The changes to group eligibility requirements contained in the TAA Extension Act of 2011 are retroactive to February 12, 2011, and apply to all petitions filed since that time – petitions designated with numbers from TA-W-80,000 through TA-W-80,999

TAA offers a variety of benefits and services to support workers in their search for reemployment. This includes Trade Readjustment Allowances, training, assistance with healthcare premium costs, Reemployment Trade Adjustment Assistance, employment and case management services, and may also include job search and relocation allowances.

Trade Readjustment Allowances (TRA) is available to continue to provide income support while you are participating in full-time training. The amount of each weekly TRA payment is based on the weekly unemployment insurance (UI) benefit amount you already have received. You must have been entitled to receive UI benefits before you may receive TRA and you must have exhausted your UI entitlement.

There are three types of TRA: Basic TRA, Additional TRA, and Completion TRA.

1. Basic TRA is payable if you are enrolled or participating in TAA-approved training, have completed training, or have obtained a waiver of the training requirement. The total amount of Basic TRA available will be calculated by multiplying your UI weekly benefit amount by 52 and subtracting the total sum of UI received. Therefore, if you have already received at least 52 weeks of UI generally you will not be eligible to receive any Basic TRA. You may still receive Basic TRA even if you are not in training, if you obtain a waiver of the training requirement from your State. Under the 2011 Amendments, states may no longer issue waivers on the grounds of Recall, Marketable Skills, or Retirement. The three remaining grounds for which states can issue waivers are:
   1. Health: you are unable to participate in or complete training due to a health condition; or
   2. Enrollment Not Available: no enrollment in training is available within 60 days; or
   3. Training Not Available: no training program is available in which you can enroll.
2. Additional TRA is payable only if you are participating in TAA-approved training and have exhausted all rights to Basic TRA. Additional TRA may be payable for up to an additional 65 weeks after the exhaustion of Basic TRA or after the period for Basic TRA eligibility during which you received UI, but only if you are enrolled in an approved training program.
3. Completion TRA (an additional period of up to 13 weeks of income support) is payable only if you are participating in TAA-approved training and have exhausted all rights to Basic TRA and Additional TRA. Assuming you meet the other TRA eligibility requirements, you may qualify for up to 13 weeks of Completion TRA where all of the following five additional criteria are met:

1. The requested weeks are necessary for you to complete a training program that leads to completion of a degree or industry-recognized credential; and
2. You are participating in training in each such week; and
3. You have substantially met the performance benchmarks established in your approved training plan (you have maintained satisfactory academic standing and are scheduled to complete training within your training plan’s specified timeframe); and
4. You are expected to continue to make progress toward the completion of the approved training; and
5. You will be able to complete the training during the period authorized for receipt of Completion TRA

Allowable types of training include: classroom training, on the-job training, customized training designed to meet the needs of a specific employer or group of employers, apprenticeship programs, post-secondary education, prerequisite education or coursework and remedial education, which may include GED preparation, literacy training, basic math, or English as a Second Language. The cost of training is paid to the training provider by the State with TAA Program funds.

Training may be approved on a full-time or part-time basis, although full-time training is required in order to meet TRA eligibility requirements. Workers covered by a certification may enroll in a TAA-approved training program when they are still working but have been threatened with a lay-off.

To receive training paid for under this program, you must meet the following six criteria:

1. No suitable employment is available.
2. You would benefit from appropriate training.
3. There is a reasonable expectation of employment following completion of training.
4. Training is reasonably available.
5. You are qualified to undertake and complete such training.
6. Training is available at a reasonable cost.

See IRS website for information regarding HCTC.

These benefits are available if you are age 50 or older and you do not earn more than $50,000 annually in your new employment. If you qualify, participation in RTAA allows you to receive a wage supplement when you accept new employment at a lower wage.

RTAA payments may total 50% of the difference between your old and new wages, with a maximum of $10,000 paid over a period of up to two years. If you are receiving RTAA, you also are entitled to receive employment and case management services and are eligible to apply for HCTC, and you may be eligible to enroll in TAA-approved training. Workers may qualify for RTAA when working part-time, employed at least 20 hours a week, and participating in a TAA-approved training program. You may choose between receiving TRA or RTAA (even if you have received some TRA payments), but you may not receive both payments concurrently or receive TRA after receiving a wage supplement.

This additional set of services offered by your state include:

1. Comprehensive assessments of skill levels and service needs

2. Development of an individual employment plan (IEP) to identify employment goals and objectives

3. Information on available training and counseling, and how to apply for financial aid

4. Short-term prevocational services, such as development of learning skills, communications skills, interviewing skills, etc.

5. Individual career counseling

6. Provision of employment statistics relating to relevant market areas

7. Information relating to the availability of supportive services

This monetary benefit is available at the discretion of your state. It covers necessary expenses incurred while seeking employment outside your normal commuting area if employment in a good job, where you are likely to remain employed and earn family-sustaining wages, is not available in your area. Job search allowances reimburse 90% of the costs of allowable travel and subsistence, up to a maximum of $1,250. An application for a job search allowance must be submitted before your job search begins, and within 365 days of your layoff or certification (whichever is later), or within 182 days after the conclusion of training.

This monetary benefit is available at the discretion of your state. It reimburses you for approved expenses when you must move to a new area to earn family-sustaining wages in employment outside of your normal commuting area. Relocation allowances may include 90% of the reasonable and necessary expenses involved in moving you, your family, and household goods to a new area following your re-employment outside of your normal commuting area. In addition, you may receive a lump sum payment equal to three times your average weekly wage, up to a maximum payment of $1,250. You must submit an application for a relocation allowance before your relocation begins, and within 425 days of your layoff or certification (whichever is later) or within 182 days after the conclusion of training.

All TAA benefits have different deadlines and individual eligibility criteria. Once certified, you must meet the criteria for each benefit to receive that benefit. If you are dissatisfied with the decisions on your individual application for TAA benefits, you have the same appeal rights as those provided under your state’s UI law. The written notice that you receive after filing your applications for each benefit will explain your appeal rights and time limits for filing appeals under state law. For state contact information, please click here.

Rapid Response assistance is provided by the Dislocated Worker Unit in the state where you were laid off to groups of workers on whose behalf a petition is filed. Rapid Response staff will make employees aware of the different services available to workers after a layoff, and if provided before a petition is filed, will include information on the process of petitioning for certification under the TAA program. Learn more about Rapid Response.

Also, if you do not qualify for TAA benefits, you may be eligible for services under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Dislocated Worker program or other programs accessible through your local American Job Center.
Contact Information 
United States Department of Labor
Employment and Training Administration
Office of Trade Adjustment Assistance
200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Room N-5428
Washington, DC 20210
Phone: 202-693-3560 or 1-888-DOL-OTAA (1-888-365-6822)
Fax: 202-693-3584 or 3585
Web site: http://www.doleta.gov/tradeact
American Job Center Locator
http://www.servicelocator.org
ETA Toll-Free Helpline – (877) US-2JOBS (877) 889-5627 (TTY)