|
Trade Readjustment Allowances
(TRA)
Trade Readjustment Allowances (TRA) provide income support to workers enrolled
in full-time training. If otherwise eligible, the number of TRA weeks
potentially available to a worker will depend upon the worker’s training
participation. TRA may be paid as basic, additional and Completion TRA. Basic
TRA may be received without training if training is not suitable and appropriate
and the worker receives a training waiver.
I. There is a
training enrollment deadline for TRA:Trade Act petition
numbers greater than 70,000:
-
The worker otherwise
eligible for TRA must enroll in TAA-approved training, or obtain a training
waiver, before the last day of the 26th week after
the date of either 1) the Trade Act certification providing TAA eligibility
or 2) the worker’s most recent qualifying separation, whichever is
later.
Trade Act
petition numbers lower than 70,000 and greater than 50,000:
-
The worker otherwise
eligible for TRA must enroll in TAA-approved training, or obtain a training
waiver, before the last day of the 8th week
after the date of the Trade Act certification providing TAA eligibility or
the last day of the 16th week following the worker’s most recent qualifying
separation, whichever is later.
No TRA may be paid after
the applicable deadline has passed unless the training enrollment/waiver
requirement has been satisfied. The time limits described above may be extended
by 45 days if the Administrator determines that there are extenuating
circumstances that justify an extension in the training enrollment period.
Additional provisions
relating to the deadline may also apply for workers covered under petition
numbers greater than 70,000:
-
For such workers who do not receive timely notice
of either the training enrollment requirement or their ability to apply for TAA
in general, the training enrollment deadline is the Monday of the first week
occurring 60 days after notification.
-
Additional good cause provisions of State
unemployment insurance law may also apply.
II. Basic, Additional, and
Remedial TRA Details
Basic TRA Benefits - 26 weeks
Additional TRA
Benefits
-
Trade Act
petition numbers greater than 70,000:
-
Trade Act
petition numbers lower than 70,000 and greater
than 50,000:
-
up to 52 weeks
while actively participating in
TAA-approved training, if a
signed training application is
submitted within 210 days of the
date of the worker’s applicable
Trade Act certification or most
recent qualifying separation,
whichever is later.
Completion TRA
III. Training
Programs and Waivers
The TRA training
requirement may be waived if training is not suitable and appropriate. The
training requirement may be waived only after an assessment that results in a
determination that one of the waiver provisions is met. A waiver may issued for
one of the following reasons:
-
Health
- The worker is unable to participate in training due to the health of the
worker (this basis for a waiver does not exempt a worker from the
availability for work, active search for work, or refusal to accept work
requirements under Federal or State unemployment compensation laws).
-
Enrollment Unavailable -
The first available enrollment date for the
worker’s approved training is within 60 days
after the date of the waiver determination or,
if later, there are extenuating circumstances
for the delay in enrollment.
-
Training Not
Available - Approved training is not reasonably
available to the worker from either governmental
agencies or private sources, no suitable
training for the worker is available at
reasonable cost, or no training funds are
available.
Waiver follow-up is
required to determine whether the circumstances existing at the time of waiver
issuance continue to exist. The waiver may be revoked if training subsequently
becomes suitable and appropriate or the worker fails to comply with follow-up as
directed.
IV.
Training and Availability for Work
A worker
enrolled in TAA-approved training is not required to seek or accept employment.
If otherwise eligible, the worker may receive unemployment compensation and TRA
without being attached to the labor market. While receiving basic TRA after
completing training, or while covered under a training waiver, the worker must
comply with the TRA
work search requirements,
more strict than work search requirements for regular unemployment compensation.
V.
Training Disqualifications
A worker approved for
training who, without justifiable cause, fails to begin or ceases participating
will be ineligible for TRA (if otherwise eligible) and any other payment under
the Trade Act, for the week of such occurrence and any week thereafter until the
week in which the worker enters or resumes approved training. Justifiable cause
would be determined by comparing the worker’s actions with the actions of a
reasonable individual in similar circumstance and may include, but is not
limited to, reasons beyond the worker’s control. If a worker fails to begin or
complete approved training, the worker may be liable for an overpayment of TAA
benefits, including TRA and/or training costs.
|
