The Trade Act Program

1
The Trade Act Program

• A general overview
• Please contact your local TAA Representative for
  the details!

2
What is the Trade Act?

• A national program based on Federal law
• Available to trade affected workers anywhere in
  the United States

3
What does Trade Act include?

• Two Major Components
• TAA - Trade Adjustment Assistance
• TRA - Trade Readjustment Allowance

4
Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA)

• Reemployment Services
• Training
• Job Search
• Relocation

5
Trade Readjustment Allowance (TRA)

• Additional Unemployment Benefits

6
TAA Benefits

• Based on
• Availability of Federal Funds
• Renewal of Trade Act Law
• Individual Eligibility

7
Reemployment Services

• Job Search Assistance
• Job Match
• Job Openings
• Career Information
• Labor Market Conditions
• Veterans Services

8
Accessing Reemployment Services

• www.workinginoregon.org
• Employment Department Offices
• One Stop Centers
• Touchscreen Kiosks Statewide

9
TAA Training

• Remedial Training
• Classroom Training
• Employer Based Training
• On the Job Training
• Customized Training

10
TAA Training provides

• Costs that are required for all students in the
  same training program
  
• Tuition/Fees
• Books
• Supplies
• Tools
• Lodging, meals, mileage if out of area

11
Funding for Individual Training Plans

• Up to 12,000 for all training related costs
• (excludes per diem or mileage)

12
Training Plan Rules

• One training plan
• 104 week limit for occupational training
• 130 week limit if remedial training is required
• Full Time
• Advance approval
• 30 day prior approval limit

13
Training Plan Approval Criteria

• No suitable work available
• Must be job ready after training
• Reasonable expectation of employment
• Training available, local priority
• Qualified to undertake complete
• Able to support yourself
• Must be suitable at a reasonable cost

14
Job Search Allowance

• No suitable work available
• Apply be approved in advance
• 1250 maximum
• Time limits
• 365 days from certification or layoff date
• 182 days after training completed

15
Relocation Allowance

• No suitable work available
• Apply be approved in advance
• 1250 Lump Sum
• Verifiable job offer
• Time limits
• 425 days from certification or layoff date
• 182 days after training completed

16
Trade Readjustment Allowances (TRA)

• 3 types of TRA
• Strict deadlines
• Must meet eligibility requirements
• Based on individual

17
TRA Requirements

• Be covered by a certification
• Have a qualifying lay off of at least 7
  consecutive days
  
• Worked for affected employer
• At least 26 of last 52 weeks
• Earned at least 30 in each of those weeks
• Be entitled to exhausted all regular and
  extended unemployment benefits

18
TRA Deadlines

• To collect any TRA, must be accepted by training
  facility approved or be on a waiver of training
  by
  
• Last day of 16th week after the week of most
  recent qualifying layoff
  
• OR
• Last day of 8th week after the week of
  certification
  
• 45 day extension from either deadline for
  justifiable cause, for training only

19
Waiver of Training for TRA

• If unable to meet deadlines for being approved
  enrolled in training, you must contact your TAA
  representative and request a Waiver of Training
  to preserve your TRA potential!!

20
TRA Benefit Amount

• TRA Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA) is based on the
  first claim you filed after the impact date.
  
• This first claim is your parent claim.

21
TRA

• Three Pots of Money possible
• TRA Basic
• TRA Additional
• TRA Remedial

22
TRA Basic

• 26 times your TRA weekly benefit amount (minus
  federally funded extensions)
  
• 104 week time limit from most recent qualifying
  layoff
  
• 3 ways to collect
• In approved training
• Completed training looking for work
• Waiver of Training

23
TRA Additional

• Apply for training within 210 days of most recent
  qualifying layoff or certification date,
  whichever is later
  
• 52 week eligibility period starting after your
  last week of TRA Basic or end of TRA 104 week
  eligibility period
  
• If training starts later, 52 week eligibility
  period starts with 1st week of training.
  
• Must be in approved TAA Training

24
TRA Remedial

• Have exhausted all other benefits
• 26 week eligibility period starting after your
  last week of TRA Additional or end of 52 week
  eligibility period
  
• If 210 day deadline not met for TRA Additional,
  the 26 week period starts after last week of TRA
  Basic or end of 104 week eligibility period
  
• One week of TRA remedial for one week of remedial
  classes
  

25
Maximum Potential of TRA

• 104 Total Weeks of TRA Possible
• 26 weeks of Basic TRA
• 52 weeks of Additional TRA
• 26 weeks of Remedial TRA
• Based on individual eligibility

26
TRA Reminders

• Cannot be paid for breaks over 30 days
• Must file a new UI claim if you become eligible
• May be reduced by earnings or deductible income
• Taxable as income
• Taxes can be withheld

27
Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC)

• A Federal tax credit of 65
• on a qualified health plan
• managed by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

28
Who is Eligible for HCTC?

• Recipients of any type of TRA
• Claiming UI or extension and otherwise would be
  eligible for TRA
  
• Recipients of ATAA
• If eligible for any day of the month, would
  qualify for entire month

29
Qualified Health Plans

• COBRA continuation coverage
• Spousal coverage plan (no advance payment, year
  end only)
  
• Individual (non-group) health coverage that began
  30 days before layoff
  
• State Qualified Coverage (not available in Oregon
  at this time)

30
Two ways to claim HCTC

• Advance payments on monthly basis to pay for
  health plan premiums. IRS mails packet of
  information to set this up.
  
• Claim HCTC at end of year when federal tax return
  is filed. IRS mails form 8885 directly to you.

31
How do I apply?

• If you are eligible, your name address will be
  submitted to the IRS.
  
• The list is updated sent nightly to IRS.
• IRS mails packet with forms to you to complete
  and return to the IRS.
  
• The IRS will determine if you can claim the tax
  credit and notify you by mail.

32
For more HCTC Information

• Call the IRS Customer Contact Center at
  866-628-HCTC (866-628-4282)
  
• Go to the IRS Website at WWW.IRS.gov
• Call your local TAA Representative for questions
  about your eligibility to be on the list that is
  sent to the IRS

33
Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance (ATAA)

• Worker group determined eligible by DOL
• Option for Older Trade Affected Workers who
  want to go to work not to school
  
• Provides a wage subsidy to bridge the salary gap
  between old job and new one

34
ATAA Requirements

• 50 years old at time of reemployment.
• Job must be full time, 40 hours/week.
• Obtain new job within 26 weeks of lay off from
  Trade Affected employer.
  
• Not expected to earn over 50,000 per year
• Cannot return to previous job

35
Its Your Choice

• ATAA
• Wage Subsidy of up to 10,000 during 2 years of
  eligibility
  
• HCTC
• Relocation Allowance

• TAA
• Training
• HCTC
• Job Search Allowance
• Relocation Allowance

36
Any Questions?

• Keep in mind this presentation is a general
  overview of a complex program!
  
• Call the expert,
• your local TAA Representative,
• for the details and answers to your questions.