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Welcome to this presentation of the Trade Act Program. The purpose of this presentation
is to give you a brief overview of the Trade Act Program and to link you to resources to
assist you in accessing the program.
Trade Act is a program that helps workers who have lost their jobs as a result of foreign
trade.
With all Trade Act cases, there are certain numbers that are important for reference:
The petition number, the Impact Date, the Certification Date, and the Expiration Date.
A company, or individual workers, can file a petition with the US Department of Labor
for consideration for Trade Act. The Department of Labor then assigns a petition number for
the case.
The Department of Labor then determines an impact date for that company.
Should the Department of Labor, through its investigation, find the company's workers
qualify for Trade Act, the department will assign a certification date, and an expiration
date.
Anyone who worked for that company on or after the impact date and are laid off before the
expiration date can potentially be covered under this petition.
Trade Act includes two components- the Trade Adjustment Assistance, or TAA, and Trade Readjustment
Allowances, or TRA.
Trade Adjustment Assistance includes reemployment services, job search allowances, relocation
allowances, and re-training benefits.
Trade Readjustment Allowances is the additional unemployment benefits you may be eligible
for under this program.
Let's take a closer look at TAA.
TAA is funded by the Federal Government. The program in Oregon is based on the availability
of federal funds given to the state.
The program is also based on individual eligibility. This is very important for you to understand.
Even though the company has been certified, you will have unique situations in your life
which will affect how your Trade Act plan is determined.
Services available to you under TAA include: reemployment services, job search allowance,
relocation allowance, and training.
I will go into more detail of each of these benefits in a moment, but first...
There are basic approval criteria for job search allowances, relocation allowances,
and re-training benefits.
First, there can not be suitable work in your labor market area.
So, what is suitable work? Suitable work is work of an equal or higher skill level making
not less than 80 % of your average weekly wage.
For example, if you were a forklift operator making $15.00 an hour, suitable work would
be a forklift operator position making at least $12.50 an hour.
The second criteria, you MUST apply and be approved in advance in order to receive any
of these benefits.
This is very important to remember because the program does not allow for benefits to
be applied for retro-actively.
Re-employment services are available to you at your local WorkSource Centers.
If you have not done so already, you should register in iMatchSkills, WorkSource Oregon's
job and skill matching database. iMatchSkills is a powerful tool for your job search.
Resource rooms in your local WorkSource Center have computers with Internet access for work
search, resume writing, and e-mail capabilities. There also are fax machines and printers available
free of charge.
If you are a veteran you can access veteran services and one-on-one assistance with a
veteran's representative.
There are several tools available for labor market research as well as career exploration
tools. If you'd like to access any of these services please visit your local WorkSource
Center. There are also some helpful web sites in your handbook you can access from home
anytime.
Also located in your WorkSource Center are Workforce Investment Act, or WIA, local providers.
The Workforce Investment Act is a separate program from Trade Act. This program has some
opportunities, such as the Dislocated Worker Program, that may be able to help you in ways
Trade Act can not.
Visit your local WorkSource Center and ask to speak with a WIA representative to review
what services you may be eligible for. Once you are determined eligible for TAA your
Trade Act case manager will conduct an assessment.
This assessment will define your personal suitable work definition, consider available
positions within that definition, look at your level of education, and address any barriers
to employment you may have.
The assessment will help you and your case manager determine what service is appropriate.
An Individual Service Plan, or ISP, will be developed to outline your employment goals
and a course of action to achieve those goals. If you are unable to find work in your commuting
area you can apply for Job Search Allowance.
To receive job search allowance you have to have a verifiable job interview or work search
plan beyond your commuting area. And, as always you must apply in advance.
You must be totally separated from employment and have no suitable work available in your
local labor market.
Some job search expenses could be covered by TAA. Job search expenses could include
air fare, lodging, and meals. Contact the Central Trade Act Unit for more information.
There are deadlines associated with Job Search Allowance. Be sure to contact the Central
Trade Act Unit at 1-877-639-7700.
If you are unable to find work in your labor market you can apply for Relocation Allowance.
To receive this you have to have a verifiable job offer beyond your labor market and apply,
as always, in advance.
You must be totally separated from employment and have no suitable work available in your
labor market.
Potential relocation expenses could include air fare, commercial carriers, mileage, and
meals among other things you can review with your case manager as needed. There is also
a lump sum amount that can be used to assist you as needed during the move. For more information
contact the Central Trade Act Unit at 1-877-639-7700 for details.
You may find that no suitable jobs are available and relocating is not something you would
like to do.
Training may be provided to help you secure employment at a skill level similar or higher
than your trade-affected employment. There are two main types of training- available:
classroom and on-the-job training.
Classroom training may be taken at a public or vocational school as long as the school
is accredited. Your TAA representative can help you with a list of accredited schools.
On-line classes can be taken only if the classes are appropriate..
In classroom training, TAA can cover required tuition, fess, books, and most required supplies.
On-the-job training is where you are hired by an employer and train with that employer
to learn new skills.
The employer is reimbursed up to half of your training wages. It is very important that
you apply in advance before starting work with an employer if you're interested in on-the-job
training.
An agreement is drawn up before you begin working with the employer. On-the-job training
can include required certifications from the employer and tools or clothing as long as
it is required of everyone in that position.
There are rules around training approvals, which include but are not limited to:
You are only allowed one plan per certification.
Because of this it will be very important that you thoroughly explore and research the
career you are interested in.
You do this by job shadowing others in the occupation you are thinking of.
There is nothing worse than to begin training only to realize the occupation is not what
you thought it was going to be.
Once you have started your occupational training you can not change your employment goal or
training plan.
Lastly, a training plan can not be approved more than 30 days in advance.
So, if you want to start winter term January 5th, the plan can not be approved until December
6th at the earliest.
Do not wait to talk to your trade act case manager however. Your case manager needs to
begin the assessment process and other services well before you receive training.
There are approval criteria for your training plan. They include:
1. No suitable work available 2. You must be job ready at the end of training.
This means you have to be ready to go into your new occupation upon completion of training.
If your goal takes you past the amount of weeks allowed, the plan can not be approved.
3. Reasonable expectation of employment. This is where your research will be helpful. Your
plan can not be approved in declining occupations. Your case manager can help you make sure you're
on the right path. 4. Training available within your labor market
area. You need to first look for training in your local area. If training is not available
locally you can look outside your area. 5. Qualified to undertake and complete training
and able to support yourself. You have to have the skills to be accepted and complete
a training program. You'll be asked to take placement tests at the schools you look to.
Also, you need to be able to support yourself. You will be asked to complete a budget worksheet.
6. Training must be suitable and available at a reasonable cost. This means that training
should be appropriate given your capabilities, skills, and experience. Your training case
manager will review what is appropriate for you.
You need to look for training in your local area first. If you are unable to find something
locally and you have to commute, the department can reimburse you based on the federal mileage
rate. Currently mileage is paid if you travel 35 miles or more one way from your home to
the training facility.
If the training is located in a place that is too far to commute to and you have to stay
in a place other than your primary residence, there is a subsistence allowance available.
This is only if you have family living in your primary residence and/or own your home.
The subsistence could cover things like lodging and meals.
Trade Readjustment Allowance provides additional unemployment benefits to individuals certified
under the Trade Act program.
To qualify for TRA you must be covered by a certification from a trade certified employer,
and you must be unemployed due to lack of work, and have qualifying wages and employment
and you must have exhausted all regular and extended unemployment benefits.
If you have questions, contact the Training Programs Unit at 800-436-6191, or the Central
Trade Act Unit at 1-877-639-7700. Once you meet basic eligibility requirements
for TRA benefits you must do one of two things:
Enroll in TAA-approved training, or be approved for a waiver of training and conducting a
work search.
This needs to be completed by a certain date. Because this date varies depending on your
unique circumstance, please contact the Training Programs Unit at 1-800-436-6191, or the Central
Trade Act unit at 1-877-639-7700, to find out your deadline date.
In some cases, we may be able to extend the deadline.
If training is not feasible or appropriate for you, you may be able to receive Trade
Act benefits for a short time while you conduct a work search.
Contact the Training Programs Unit or the Central Trade Act Unit for more information.
You are potentially eligible for trade readjustment allowances if you meet certain conditions.
Your benefits will be explained to you as you move through the program.
The benefits fall into one of two categories: Basic TRA and Additional TRA. Each category
has its own set of eligibility requirements.
Under trade act basic, benefits are paid only while a worker conducts work search prior
to beginning TAA approved training, or enrolls and participates in TAA approved training,
or is conducting work search after successfully completing the TAA approved training.
In order to qualify for trade act additional benefits, you must be participating in full-time
training.
Another benefit program is trade act remedial.
Trade Act Remedial is paid to eligible workers who must take remedial education as part of
their approved training plan. In some cases, pre-requisite classes may be included.
Trade act remedial benefits are paid out on the basis of one week of benefits for one
week of remedial education, up to 26 weeks. You can file for regular unemployment benefits
at any time. However, you should consult with the Training Programs Unit on how filing prior
to your layoff date may impact future Trade Act benefits.
While in the program, if at any time you become eligible for a new, regular unemployment claim,
an adjudicator will review your case and advise you of your options.
You can file for regular unemployment benefits one of two ways: by phone or over the Internet.
If you have Internet access, filing online is the fastest way to get your claim filed.
Go to Working-In-Oregon dot O_R_G, and click on "File Your New Claim."
If you do not have Internet access, you can call the unemployment insurance center at
1-877-877-1781. Workers eligible for TRA benefits may be eligible
for help with medical costs. Under the Health Coverage Tax Credit a worker may be eligible
to receive tax credits for 80 percent of the monthly health insurance premium they pay.
The tax credit may be claimed in one of two ways, monthly in advance to help pay health
plan premiums as they come due. This can be applied towards premiums, not individual doctor
bills. Or yearly taken as a lump sum credit on a federal tax return.
For more information contact the Internal Revenue Service at 1-866-628-4282 or online
at IRS dot G-O-V, keyword HCTC The reemployment trade adjustment assistance
program provides an alternative to benefits offered under TAA.
The program allows qualified workers to accept reemployment at a lower wage and receive a
wage subsidy. To qualify the worker must be at least 50 years old at the time of reemployment.
For more information contact the Training Programs Unit at 1-800-436-6191.
For more information on the Trade Act program, contact the TAA hotline at 877-639-7700 or
the Training Programs Unit at 1-800-436-6191.