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Dislocated Worker/Rapid Response Team FAQs
(Frequently
Asked Questions) |
Last Updated:
July 17, 2009 |
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1.
What is a Dislocated Worker?
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Dislocated workers are individuals who have
been or will be laid off as a result of a plant closure or substantial
layoff. Dislocated workers also include laid-off workers who are unlikely to
return to their previous industry or occupation, displaced homemakers, and
self-employed individuals who are unemployed because of general economic
conditions or a natural disaster.
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2
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How do I get classified as a Dislocated Worker?
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To be classified
as a Dislocated Worker, you must go through a certification process. You
can become certified as eligible at any
CT
Works Career Center.
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3.
What services are available to eligible Dislocated Workers?
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Dislocated
Worker services include career transition services: no-cost services for job
seekers include Certified Professional Résumé Writers; career development
specialists for job search and career assistance; CT JobCentral, an electronic
listing of more than 1 million jobs; computers for job seeking
and researching the labor market; an electronic talent bank for
posting résumés; computers, phones and fax machines; and a wide
variety of career workshops; possible funds for training (based
on need), and consideration of special circumstances when
applying for federal student financial aid for yourself, your
spouse, and/or dependents.
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4.
How
much do these services cost?
- All Dislocated Worker
services are free of charge.
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5. Is
every Dislocated Worker entitled to training funds?
- The Dislocated Worker
program is not an entitlement program. Funding for training is
based on individual need and funds availability. Training must
be short-term, lead to an occupation in demand, and be approved
by the Department of Labor prior to enrollment.
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6.
If
I am enrolled in an approved Dislocated Worker training program,
must I still be available for work, making reasonable efforts to
find work, and have to accept referrals to work in order to
continue to collect Unemployment Compensation?
- If you are enrolled in a
training program that has been pre-approved by the Department of
Labor, you can continue to collect Unemployment Compensation (up
to the full 26 weeks only) and be exempt from the work search
requirements while you are in training.
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7.
If
I pay for a training program up-front, can I get reimbursed
through this program?
- No. When a training plan
has been approved, the Dislocated Worker program operator writes
a grant with the training facility for the cost of tuition and
related fees. Since funds go directly to the school, and not the
Dislocated Worker, no reimbursement can be made.
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8.
Do
I have to wait until I have worked my last day to start using
Dislocated Worker services?
- Once you have been given
an individual layoff notice and have been certified as a
Dislocated Worker, you are eligible for services. If you have
not been given an individual layoff notice, but you are employed
at a facility for which your employer has made a public
announcement of a planned closure and you are not likely to
remain employed with your employer, or retire, you are eligible
for certain Dislocated Worker services.
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9. Are
there any residency or income requirements tied to this program?
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No.
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10.
How can the Rapid Response Team help my company?
- If your company is
experiencing financial difficulties, the Rapid Response Team,
headed by the Rapid Response Unit of the Department of Labor,
can assist in exploring alternatives to layoffs. If layoffs
cannot be averted, the team can provide your company with the
opportunity to help workers make a more-effective transition to
new employment by conducting prior-to-layoff on-site Early
Intervention sessions. These sessions are designed to inform
workers of the wealth of free services that are available to
assist them in getting re-employed as quickly as possible. In
addition, team members may be available to provide a series of
on-site mini-workshops which introduce workers to the basics of
conducting a successful job search. All services provided by the
team are free of charge.
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