Notice to Petitioners – July 2, 2009
Due to recent legislative expansions to the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program that went into effect on May 18, 2009, the Employment and Training Administration is experiencing a sharp increase in petitions for eligibility for the program. This increase in petition filings may result in a delay in the investigations of petitions and accompanying eligibility determinations, because it is necessary for us to provide thorough and appropriate consideration to each and every petition filed. Petitions are investigated in the order they are received; however, determinations on those petitions are dependent on the receipt of verified information, such as company and customer data. The duration of each investigation depends on the number of information requests necessary, how quickly we receive the requested information, and the time it takes to apply the facts of the case to the various eligibility requirements. We understand that each TAA petition represents workers who have suffered or will suffer a job loss and are eager to understand what benefits or services are available to them to help with their reemployment in good jobs. We are committed to employing every resource at our disposal to work through this sharp increase in petitions filed under the new program in order to get much needed benefits and training in the hands of workers as quickly as possible.
TEGL 22-08: Operating Instructions for Implementing the Amendments to the Trade Act of 1974 Enacted by the Trade and Globalization Adjustment Assistance Act of 2009 – May 18, 2009
This Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) provides guidance to cooperating state agencies for implementation of new provisions for the administration of the Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers program (TAA program).
TEGL 23-08: Petition Form for the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Program Including a Spanish Version – May 18, 2009
This Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) transmits the TAA petition form to cooperating state agencies. The petition form is provided on this website here for use by petitioners.
Changes to TAA program - Questions and Answers –May 18, 2009
The TAA program helps workers who have lost their jobs as a result of foreign trade. The TAA program offers a variety of benefits and services to eligible workers, including job training, income support, job search and relocation allowances, a tax credit to help pay the costs of health insurance, and a wage supplement to certain reemployed trade-affected workers 50 years of age and older.
President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 ("Recovery Act") on February 17, 2009. The Trade and Globalization Adjustment Assistance Act of 2009,part of the Recovery Act, made changes to the TAA program.
In general, changes to worker benefits and certification criteria apply only to workers covered by petitions filed on or after May 18, 2009. The exception is that the increase in the amount of the Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC), which provides a tax credit towards health insurance costs, goes into effect beginning with the month of May 2009 and applies to all recipients, regardless of when their petition was filed.
For more information on these changes, please click on relevant links below:
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