Trade Adjustment Assistance TAA Through the Trade Act

Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Through the Trade Act of 1974 as Amended by TAA Reversion 2014 Effective January 1, 2014

Trade Adjustment Assistance Is available to workers who lose their jobs as the result of: • increased foreign imports, or • a shift in production to certain countries, or • reduced hours of work and wages due to the adverse effect of the above.

Goal of TAA To provide assistance to workers affected by foreign imports to return to suitable employment as quickly as possible.

Steps to TAA Eligibility • Petition filed by a company official, union, Onestop operators, State Workforce Agencies or dislocated worker units, or at least three affected workers. Certification • Company Federally certified as being adversely affected by foreign imports, or having shifted production to certain countries. • Workers apply for individual certification by completing TAA-855. • Labor Department determines eligibility. • Individual worker notified by mail of eligibility determination for TAA benefits.

A denial or negative determination can be appealed (within 21 days).

TAA Benefits & Reemployment Services • • • Income Support (TRA) Training Job search Allowance Relocation Allowance Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance (ATAA)

You have the right to apply for TAA benefits • Each TAA benefit has eligibility requirements. • The time limits for you to apply for each TAA benefit is included in this presentation. Take action in a timely way in order to make the most of your benefits.

Income Support Trade Readjustment Allowance (TRA) Is income support for eligible Trade. Impacted workers that immediately follows unemployment insurance

TRA Benefit Limits $ • 26 weeks of Regular Unemployment Insurance. • 26 weeks of Basic TRA. • Up to 65 weeks of Additional TRA if participating in training. • Up to 13 weeks of Completion TRA if certain conditions are met.

Prompt Application and Pursuit of Benefits is Vital Many program benefits have deadlines. • TRA benefits depend on being enrolled in TAA approved training or receiving a Waiver form within: – 8 weeks after the petition certification, or – 16 weeks of the qualifying separation, whichever is later

Basic TRA - may be available if: • You are enrolled in TAA approved training by the 8/16 deadline (See Training Enrolment slide) or • The training requirement is waived, or • You have completed TAA approved training. • Basic TRA may be payable only during the 104 week period beginning with the worker’s most recent separation NOTE: Additional qualifying requirements for TRA can be found at 20 CFR 617. 11

Training Enrollment Training enrollment (training application accepted by CT Dept. of Labor & you are accepted into the approved program which begins within 30 days of such approval) occurs no later than the latest of: 1. The last day of the 8 th week after the week in which the certification was issued 2. The last day of the 16 th week after the worker’s most recent total separation

Training Enrollment continued 3. 45 days after the later of the dates specified in (1) or (2), if it is determined that there are extenuating circumstances that justify an extension in the enrollment period, or 4. When a waiver is terminated (either by expiration or revocation) the deadline becomes the Monday of the first week occurring 30 days after the date on which the waiver terminated.

Additional TRA may be available if: • You are still participating in training, and… • You filed your training application within 210 days of your most recent separation or the company certification (whichever is later). $ $

TRA Income Support Payments • Claims for TRA Payments are filed by mail (not by telephone). • Payment delivery takes longer than regular unemployment insurance. • Each weekly claim must be accompanied by an additional document.

Each weekly claim must be accompanied by either: • Training Attendance form, or… • if not in training, a Job Search Efforts sheet documenting where you looked for work.

Job Search Requirements: • Minimum three employer contacts per week. • Contacts can be in person, by phone or by mail. • Contacts must be made on at least two days of each week.

When Unemployment Insurance runs out - what is an acceptable job search under TRA? • Unless your job prospects are good, you are required to accept any offer of work which is within your capabilities. • You must consider other types of work, including work below your highest skill level and work which pays lower wages.

TRA Job Search Requirements: • Such work must pay at least the State minimum wage. • Such work must be more than your TRA gross weekly benefit amount. • The job must have been offered in writing or listed with the Labor Department. • However, you are not required to accept a rate of pay substantially less than average for that type of work.

UC-230 Job Search Efforts Sheet must include the following: • worker’s name, Social Security number, and dates of week being claimed. • the date of contact. • company name. • company address. • person contacted (a name or title is required). • how contacted. • type of work sought. • Result (not hired, not qualified, pending).

CONNECTICUT LABOR DEPARTMENT EMPLOYMENT SECURITY DIVISION REPORT OF WORK-SEEKING ACTIVITIES UC-230 (REV. 1/95) SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER NAME In order to be eligible for TRA benefits, the law requires that you make a thorough work search for each week claimed. You must (a) actively seek work throughout each week, (b) make efforts to find work on at least two (2) days during the week and (c) contact a minimum of three (3) employers each week. The signature of prospective employers is NOT required. I AM CLAIMING BENEFITS FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING _______________ AND ENDING _____________ SUNDAY DATE NAME OF EMPLOYER’S ADDRESS PERSON CONTACTED SATURDAY HOW CONTACTED TYPE OF WORK SOUGHT (1) (2) (3) (4) PLEASE NOTE: EFFORTS LISTED ABOVE MUST CORRESPOND WITH SUN. -SAT. DATES OF CLAIM FILED. UC-230 Job Search Efforts Sheet RESULTS

TAA Training

TAA Training • If suitable • employment is not available. • Obsolete skills may • mean it’s time for a new career. • While attending TAAapproved training, you • do not have to look for work. Training should be of the shortest duration necessary to enable you to return to work. Skill training must be full time with a maximum potential of 130 training weeks. Meet with your TAA rep. Early for planning.

TAA Training (continued) • Employer-based training – on-the-job training (OJT) or training customized to the needs of a specific employer or group of employers – for customized training, an employer must contribute at least 50% of the training cost and promise to employ you when training ends

TAA Training • Must be approved of by the Connecticut Department of Labor. • Must lead to an occupational credential.

Requirements for TAA Training Approval • A determination that no suitable employment is available to you. • You have the background, education, skills or experience to succeed in the training. • You have the physical, mental, and financial capabilities to complete the training.

Requirements for TAA Training Approval (Cont. ) • The training is reasonably available from either governmental or private sources. • The training is suitable for the worker and available at reasonable cost. • There is reasonable expectation of employment following completion of the training.

Other TAA Benefits

Job Search Allowance • If suitable work is not available to you in your commuting area. • Applications must be approved of before you make job search arrangements. • There are time limits for filing job search applications.

Job Search Allowance If work for which you are qualified is not available in your area, you may apply for a Job Search Allowance which would pay for: 90% of the cost of necessary job search expenses e. g. , transportation costs up to $1, 250.

You must apply for a Job Search Allowance before the later of: • 365 days after certification or your last total separation, or • 182 days after training is completed, unless the worker received a training waiver.

Relocation Allowance • If it is determined that suitable work is not available in your current area of residence, and • You find long term work or a bona fide offer of work within the United States, • You may apply for a Relocation Allowance.

Relocation Allowance • Applications must be filed for and approved before the relocation begins. • You may receive only one Relocation Allowance. • The relocation must occur within 182 days after: – the filing of the relocation application, or – the conclusion of TAA-approved training

An approved Relocation Allowance would pay: • 90% of the reasonable and necessary relocation expenses, and • A Lump Sum equal to 3 times your former average weekly wage up to a maximum of $1, 250.

You must apply for a Relocation Allowance before the later of: • 425 days after certification or your last total separation, or • 182 days after training concluded, unless the worker received a training waiver.

Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance (ATAA)

What is ATAA? ATAA is a program that provides eligible individuals who obtain new employment with a wage subsidy to help bridge the salary gap between their old and new employment.

Who is Eligible for ATAA? To be Eligible for ATAA a worker must: • Be both TAA and ATAA certified • Age 50 or older • Obtain new employment within 26 weeks of his/her separation • Determine retraining is not appropriate • Application must be submitted within 2 years of reemployment.

Who is Eligible for ATAA? To be Eligible for ATAA a worker must: • Earn $50, 000 or less a year (not including overtime pay). • Be employed (by one or more employers) for 35 hours or more per week; • Not return to the employment from which you were separated. (Cannot return to the same division/facility separated from, nor do the same or similar work for the employer in another division/facility. )

ATAA Wage Subsidy • The State shall pay 50 percent of the difference between: – the wages received by the worker from reemployment, and – the wages received by the worker at the time of separation. • ATAA payments made to a worker may not exceed $10, 000 per worker during a 2 -year eligibility period. The $10, 000 limit would be reduced by any TRA benefits paid, if any.

How will Receiving ATAA Payments effect my other TAA Benefits? You may be eligible to receive: –Relocation allowances. You Will Not be eligible to receive: –TRA payments – Training funded through TAA, and –Job search allowances

Your Responsibilities • Read the information and materials carefully. • Use the services offered by your Job Center and other community resources. • Keep a notebook of your efforts to find work.

Your Responsibilities • See your TAA representative early to explore your benefits and their requirements. • Apply for benefits within the specified time frames. • Keep your TAA representative informed of and changes in your training program or employment status.

Your Responsibilities • I will provide my Trade Act Counselor with registration information and all required documentation necessary to complete benefit approvals and paperwork in a timely manner. • If my training plan must be modified and/or requires a training extension, I agree to consult with my TAA Counselor before any change is made for prior approval to ensure that the modification complies with all TAA program rules and regulations.

Your Responsibilities • I will immediately notify my Trade Act Counselor and training provider, in writing, if I withdraw from my Trade Act approved training courses/program and provide my TAA Counselor official withdrawal documentation from my training provider. • I will provide my Trade Act Counselor with copies of my certificate or degree upon completion of training. • Failure to comply with program rules and regulations could result in your training plan being revoked and/or having to repay the cost of training.

To find employment make effective use of: • Re-employment Services. • Trade Adjustment Assistance Benefits. • Other programs or community services.

TAA Benefits are unique and are not available to most job seekers. Use yours wisely!