Trade Adjustment Assistance
The Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for Workers Program is a federal entitlement program that assists workers impacted by foreign trade. Through the provision of a number of employment-related benefits and services, the TAA Program provides trade-affected workers with opportunities to obtain the support, resources, skills, and credentials they need to return to the workforce in a good job in an in-demand industry. The program services include training, employment and case management services, job search allowances, relocation allowances, wage supplements for workers aged 50 and older, and Trade Readjustment Allowances (TRA).
General information about this opportunity
Last Known Status
Active
Program Number
17.245
Federal Agency/Office
Employment and Training Administration, Department of Labor
Type(s) of Assistance Offered
A - Formula Grants
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2017 No Current Data Available
Fiscal Year 2018 No Current Data Available
Fiscal Year 2016 No Current Data Available Budget Performance Information is available at: https://www.dol.gov/general/aboutdol#budget.
Authorization
The Trade Adjustment Assistance Reauthorization Act of 2015 (TAARA 2015), title IV of the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015 (Public Law 114-27), was signed into law by President Barack Obama on June 29, 2015. Unless otherwise stipulated, recipients are subject to Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards; Final Rule on December 26, 2013 and found at 2 CFR Part 200 along with the OMB approved exceptions for DOL at 2 CFR Part 2900 published on December 19, 2014 in the Federal Register., Public Law 114-27
Who is eligible to apply/benefit from this assistance?
Applicant Eligibility
For a worker to be eligible to apply for TAA, the worker must be part of a group of workers that are the subject of a petition filed with the Department. Three workers of a company, a company official, a union or other duly authorized representative, or an AJC operator or partner may file that petition with the Department. In response to the filing, the Department initiates an investigation to determine whether foreign trade was an important cause of the workers' job loss or threat of job loss. If the Department determines that the workers meet the statutory criteria for group certification of eligibility for the workers in the group to apply for TAA, the Department grants the petition and issues a certification.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Once a member of a worker group is covered by a certification for eligibility to apply for TAA, the workers individually apply for benefits and services through the American Job Centers. TAA benefits and services have specific individual eligibility criteria that must be met, such as previous work history, unemployment insurance eligibility, and individual skill levels. The TAA program currently offers the following benefits and services to eligible individuals: training, weekly income support in the form of TRA, out-of-area job search and relocation allowances, case management and employment services, and wage supplement for qualified older workers through RTAA.
Credentials/Documentation
Petition for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) (OMB No. 1205-0342)
What is the process for applying and being award this assistance?
Pre-Application Procedure
Preapplication coordination is not applicable.
Application Procedure
2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. To apply for TAA under the Trade Act of 1974, as amended, a "Petition for Trade Adjustment Assistance" must be filed directly with the Office of Trade Adjustment Assistance and with the State official or organization designated by the Governor of the State in which the workers' firm or subdivision is located. OTAA and State contact information, as well as petition forms in English and Spanish, are available through the State Workforce Agencies or from the Office of Trade Adjustment Assistance. The petition forms may also be downloaded from the TAA web-site, or filed online, at: http:www.doleta.gov/tradeact.
Award Procedure
A Certification of Eligibility to apply for TAA may be issued by the Secretary of Labor to groups of workers who have been found by the Department of Labor to have met the group eligibility requirements of TAARA 2015. Certifications will be posted in the Federal Register and on the TAA website. Individual workers covered by the certification will be notified by the state and can apply to their local American Job Center for individual determinations of eligibility to receive benefits and services.
Deadlines
Not applicable.
Approval/Disapproval Decision Time
From 30 to 60 days. For the TAA program, investigations to determine group eligibility begin with the receipt of a valid petition. Once a determination is issued, states are notified. States notify eligible individuals.
Appeals
From 30 to 60 days. There are two courses of appeal, one administrative and the other judicial. Petitioners aggrieved by a final determination by the Secretary may, within 30 days after notice of such determination is published in the Federal Register, file an application for reconsideration with the Director of the Office of Trade Adjustment Assistance. If the determination following reconsideration is negative, they may, within 60 days after notice of the negative determination upon reconsideration, file a petition for review of such determination with the United States Court of International Trade in New York City. Aggrieved petitioners may request judicial appeal without first seeking administrative reconsideration, within 60 days after notice of such determination is published in the Federal Register.
Renewals
Not applicable.
How are proposals selected?
Not applicable.
How may assistance be used?
State Workforce Agencies (SWAs) serve as agents of the United States and administer the worker adjustment assistance benefit provisions of the Trade Act. SWAs, through their American Job Centers (AJC), formerly known as One-Stop Career Centers or by a different name, and other local offices, provide assessments, employment counseling, and job placement services; job search and relocation assistance; and training.
The weekly subsistence payments and wage supplements of TRA and A/RTAA are administered under the Unemployment Insurance program (see CFDA 17.225). State unemployment compensation and extended benefits must be exhausted before TRA is paid to eligible claimants. Trade impacted workers are eligible to receive job search and relocation allowances. In addition to the costs of training, they may be paid subsistence and transportation allowances to attend approved training outside the normal commuting distance of a worker's regular place of residence.
What are the requirements after being awarded this opportunity?
Reporting
Performance Reports: Program performance is monitored both by state staff and by Federal Regional Office staff.
Auditing
Not applicable.
Records
Nonfederal entities are required to maintain adequate records in accordance with 2 CFR Part 200.333, 29 CFR 95 and 97, as applicable.
Other Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.
Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Base formula funding grants for Training and Other Activities are provided to States annually and are active for three years; reserve funds may be requested by States based on additional needs above the base funding provided. Funding for TRA and wage supplements (in the form of ATAA under the 2002 Program, and RTAA under the 2009, 2011, and 2015 Programs) are neither determined by the formula nor distributed in accordance with the other provisions of TAA regulations codified at 20 CFR 618.900 to 618.940. These funds, apportioned from the annual FUBA account appropriation, are managed by the Department’s Office of Unemployment Insurance (OUI), and states request them from OUI on an as needed basis. *2002 Program* For TAA certifications of petitions filed before May 18, 2009, and after February 12, 2011 through October 21, 2011, up to 104 weeks of TRA available to workers enrolled in full-time training or up to 130 weeks of TRA available to workers enrolled in remedial training. *2009 Program* For TAA certifications of petitions filed between May 18, 2009 and February 15, 2011, up to 130 weeks of TRA is available to workers enrolled in full-time training or up to 156 weeks of TRA available to workers enrolled in remedial or prerequisite training. *2011 Program* For TAA certifications of petitions filed between October 21, 2011 and through December 31, 2013, up to 130 weeks of TRA available to workers enrolled in full-time training, the last 13 of which are only available if needed for completion of a training program and training benchmarks are met. *2015 Program* For TAA certifications of petitions filed after January 1, 2014, up to 130 weeks of TRA available to workers enrolled in full-time training, the last 13 of which are only available if needed for completion of a training program and training benchmarks are met. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Lump.
Who do I contact about this opportunity?
Regional or Local Office
Regional offices of the Employment and Training Administration, Department of Labor
Headquarters Office
Julie S Baker
Frances Perkins Building, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20210 US
baker.julie.s@dol.gov
Phone: 2026933707
Fax: 2026933584
Website Address
http://www.doleta.gov/tradeact/
Financial Information
Account Identification
16-0326-0-1-999
Obligations
(Formula Grants) FY 18$398,000,000.00; FY 19 est $401,000,000.00; FY 20 est $450,000,000.00; FY 17$391,000,000.00; FY 16$391,000,000.00; -
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
This amount is published yearly in the Report to the Committee on Finance of the Senate and Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives, which can be found on the program website at www.doleta.gov/tradeact.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Regulations: -29 CFR 90, Certification of Eligibility to Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance -20 CFR 617, Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers -20 CFR 618.900- 618.930, Regulations Regarding TAA Funding The list of regulations can be found at https://www.doleta.gov/tradeact/statutes.cfm#Regulations. Directives and Guidances: A comprehensive list of Directives and Guidances can be found at https://www.doleta.gov/tradeact/directives.cfm.
Examples of Funded Projects
Not applicable.