Trade Act Benefits
IMPORTANT NOTICE
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 issue any determinations and may not accept any new petitions or requests for reconsideration. Requests to amend current certifications may still be filed. Workers who were 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. See TEGL 13-21 for more details.
What are Trade Act Benefits?
Trade Act benefits are federal funds used to help individuals who become unemployed as a result of foreign trade coming into the US markets or production being shifted to other foreign countries. The benefits are intended to assist individuals in returning to suitable employment. The Trade Act benefits available for qualified individuals are: Training, Job Search Allowances, Relocation Allowances, and Trade Readjustment Allowances (income support while in training) and RTAA.
What is Trade Readjustment Allowances (TRA)?
Eligible individuals may receive weekly unemployment benefits called Trade Readjustment Allowances (TRA). TRA benefits are paid after you have exhausted all rights to regular and federal unemployment compensation and meet the eligibility requirements.
Who is Eligible for TRA Benefits?
In general, to be eligible for TRA benefits, you must have worked for a certified trade affected employer for at least 26 weeks in the past year prior to the lay off date and meet the eligibility requirements. You must also be enrolled in a training course approved by TAA or be on an approved Waiver from the school participation requirement. A listing of employers that have been Trade Act approved by the Office of Trade Adjustment Assistance is available from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Select the downloadable data on petitions link. Additionally, you can search for peitition status by petition number or by company name. Specific TRA eligibility requirements can be found in the Trade Act Benefits Guide.
To determine if you qualify for TRA, you can contact us.
Where Can I Learn More About Trade Act Benefits?
More information on Trade Act benefits, including Training, Job Search and Relocation Allowances, are available through any DWS Employment Center or from the US Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
To learn more about other Dislocated Worker services offered by DWS, please visit Your One-Stop Resource Guide after a Layoff.