The TAA program is a federal program that assists U.S. workers who have lost or may lose their jobs as a result of foreign trade. This program seeks to provide adversely affected workers with opportunities to obtain the skills, credentials, resources, and support necessary to become reemployed. TAA includes a variety of benefits and reemployment services to help unemployed workers prepare for and obtain suitable employment. Workers may be eligible for training, a job search allowance, a relocation allowance, and other reemployment readjustment services.
Additionally, weekly trade readjustment allowances (TRA) may be payable to eligible workers following their exhaustion of unemployment benefits. Usually, TRA benefits will be paid only if an individual is enrolled in an approved training program.
Petition Process
The first step to receiving TAA benefits and services is to file a petition on-line or by mail with the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL). The petition may be filed by:
- Three or more workers in the same firm or subdivision
- The workers’ employer
- A union official or other duly authorized representative of such workers
- A State of Michigan Workforce Development Agency or Michigan Works! Agency representative
Upon receiving a petition, USDOL initiates an investigation to determine whether the circumstances of the layoff meet the group eligibility criteria established by the program.
TAA Program Eligibility
A petition identifies a worker group at a specific firm or subdivision and covers all individuals in that group. Generally, if a worker is laid off, a petition must be submitted within one year of the layoff for that worker to be covered by the petition and the certification, if USDOL grants the petition. A group of workers may be eligible for TAA if their jobs are lost or threatened due to trade-related circumstances as determined by the USDOL investigation.
After the investigation, the USDOL determines group eligibility to apply for TAA benefits and services.
Workers in a certified group will be notified by their local Michigan Works! Agency, at which time they may apply for individual eligibility for benefits and services.
If a worker is a member of a worker group certified by the USDOL, that worker may receive benefits: For more information visit your local American Job Center.
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