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-a

The Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for Workers Program is a federal entitlement program that assists workers impacted by foreign trade by providing training, employment and case management services, job search allowances, relocation allowances, wage supplements for workers aged 50 and older (ATAA), and Trade Readjustment Allowances (TRA). On July 1, 2022, the termination provision under Section 285(a) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended, took effect. Until further notice, the Department may not conduct any investigations, issue any determinations and may not accept any requests for reconsideration. Workers who were members of worker groups certified and separated from their job on or before June 30, 2022, may still be eligible for benefits and services and should contact their nearest American Jobs Center.

Under Section 239 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended, each state, as an agent of the Department, carry out the activities of the TAA Program. States receive worker applications and provide benefits and services to eligible workers certified to receive TAA Program benefits. Each state provides these services through one or more state agencies, one of which is designated as the CSA in an agreement between the state's Governor and the U.S. Secretary of Labor (Secretary); this agreement is known as the Governor-Secretary Agreement. The Governor-Secretary Agreement explains program requirements, limitations on the use of TAA Program funds, and other important grant provisions, including the TAA Program Annual Funding Agreement (AFA), that states must comply with in order to access TAA Program funding. There are also Standard Terms and Conditions applied to every grant issued by the Employment and Training Administration. Employment/Labor/Management, Business/Commerce, Training, Vocational Education/State Workforce Agency/American Job Centers/Workforce Boards/

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, employment and case management services, and a wage supplement for qualified older workers through A/RTAA. Trade Affected Workers/Dislocated Workers/Individual/Family/Unemployed

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 in each state, and other local offices, provide assessments, employment counseling, and job placement services; job search and relocation assistance; and training. The weekly income support payments and wage supplements of TRA and A/RTAA, respectively, are administered under the Unemployment Insurance program (see CFDA 17.225). State unemployment compensation and extended benefits must be exhausted

Funds under the 17.245 classification are available for expenditure for three fiscal years (i.e., funds awarded in FY 2024 are available for FY 2024, FY 2025, and FY 2026). The expenditure period for funds provided under 17.225 for TRA, ATAA, and RTAA is one fiscal year. States may refer to TAA Program Annual Funding Agreement and Notice of Award for additional information on the expenditure period for training funds and the UI Annual Funding Agreements for additional information on TRA, ATAA, and RTAA expenditure periods.

Information alerting states of the availability of FY funds is communicated via Training and Employment Guidance Letters DOL publishes each fiscal year.

TAA is a mandatory entitlement and states execute agreements with between their State Governor and the Secretary of Labor to carry out the program. Awards are non-competitive.