Workers affected by foreign trade

Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) helps workers who are unemployed due to foreign trade. They can qualify for a variety of employment services and income support.

We strongly recommend that you get help from a WorkSource TAA case manager to research these services. Use the WorkSource locator tool to contact a TAA case manager in your area or contact the TAA Program Operations Team at wataa@esd.wa.gov.

Occupational skills training

TAA can help you with occupational skills training if you, the training, and the jobs related to the training meet all of the following:

  • You'd benefit from appropriate training.
  • You'll likely get a job after the training.
  • You're qualified to attend training.
  • You have enough money to complete training.
  • The training is reasonably available to you.
  • The training is suitable and available at a reasonable cost.
  • Suitable jobs are at an equal or higher skill level than the job you left due to foreign trade.
  • Suitable jobs earn wages not less than 80% of your previous average weekly wage.

TAA training plans

We can approve plans for different types of training.

Classroom

Classroom training is usually in person but can also be online. Classroom training must result in a final certificate, degree or other recognized credential.

Apprenticeship

Registered apprenticeships and other programs are paid work part and part education. Apprenticeships must result in a recognized credential.

On-the-job

An employer provides on-the-job training to an employee. Employers will receive a wage reimbursement up to 50% for a set time. Your petition number and the extent of training required determines that set time.

Customized

You may be able to take customized training that meets special requirements of an employer or group of employers. Employers need to promise to hire those who successfully complete the training. Employers pay at least 50% of the cost of training.

If we approve your training

If we approve your training, the TAA program may pay for:

  • Tuition
  • Required books, tools, equipment and fees.
  • Remedial and prerequisite training that is part of your approved TAA training plan.
  • Money to offset the cost of a second household if you need to attend out-of-area training.
  • Money to offset the cost of traveling to training outside a defined commute area.

Job search allowance

You may receive a job search allowance if you can't find suitable work within your local commuting area.

You need to submit requests for job search allowances:

  • Before you begin your job search. Contact your TAA case manager for more information.
  • Before the 365th day after the layoff or certification, or 182 days after training ends, whichever is later.

The reimbursement covers whatever is the lower amount of 1 of the following:

  • A percentage of the allowable travel and subsistence costs, or
  • A percentage of the federal per-diem rate for the area where you are job searching.

Your case manager can give you exact amounts.

Relocation allowance

You may be eligible for financial help to move to a new area if you accept a suitable job there.

You need to submit requests for moving allowances before the move begins. Contact your TAA case manager for more information.

You can be reimbursed up to 90% of the reasonable and necessary costs of moving you, your family and your household. We could reduce the amount if you receive reimbursement from other sources.

To help you move, you may also be eligible for a lump-sum payment equal to 3 times your average weekly wage, up to $1,250.

Trade Readjustment Allowance (TRA)

Trade Readjustment Allowance (TRA) is income support after you have used up your unemployment benefits.

Unemployment benefits pay up to 26 times your weekly benefit amount. You can receive these benefits only during your 52-week benefit year.

Requirements to qualify for any TRA income support

You must meet all of the following:

  • Be TAA certified.
  • Have used up any other federal unemployment benefits.
  • Be enrolled in or completed TAA-approved training. Or have proof in writing that we waived the training before the enrollment deadline.

You also need to have been laid off:

  • By a TAA-certified employer due to lack of work.
  • On or after the impact date identified by USDOL.
  • Before the certification expires and before the program expired on July 1, 2022.

Finally, you need to have worked with the TAA-certified firm or subdivision for at least 26 weeks and have earned at least $30 in each of those 26 weeks.

Note, these 26 weeks must have been during 52 consecutive weeks immediately before and including the week of your separation.

Types of TRA

TRA benefits come in 3 forms:

Basic TRA

May be available once you run out of your unemployment benefits. Basic TRA benefits equal 52 times your WBA, minus any federally funded unemployment benefits you are eligible to receive.

You may get these benefits only during your 104-week Basic TRA eligibility period if any of the following apply:

  • You are enrolled in or participating in TAA-approved training.
  • You were looking for a job before the training enrollment deadline.
  • You were looking for a job after completing TAA-approved training.
  • You were looking for a job after the training enrollment deadline, if we waived the training before the deadline.

Additional TRA

You may qualify for additional TRA after you run out of Basic TRA benefits, but only if you are attending TAA-approved training.

Completion TRA

May be available after you have run out of Additional TRA and only while you are attending TAA-approved training. You may receive up to 13 weeks of benefits, payable during the final 20 weeks of training. You must make satisfactory progress throughout training.

Training enrollment deadlines and waiver requirements for TRA

You may be able to receive Basic TRA if you are looking for work or are not able to begin training before your training enrollment deadline. To continue receiving TRA beyond your training deadline, you need to enroll in approved training. Or we need to waive the training by the enrollment deadline.

Training enrollment deadlines:

  • For petitions numbered 50,000-69,999 and 98,000 and above: You need to enroll in approved training. If you're not enrolled, we need to waive the training within 8 weeks of the petition certification date. Or we need to waive the training 16 weeks from your most recent qualifying separation, whichever is later.
  • For petitions numbered 70,000-97,999: You need to enroll in approved training. If you're not enrolled, we need to waive the training within 26 weeks of the petition certification date. Or we need to waive the training 26 weeks from your most recent qualifying separation, whichever is later.

Waiver requirements:

Training waivers are available before the training enrollment deadline. To receive Additional or Completion TRA, you need to be attending approved training.

To find out if you're qualified for a training waiver, email the TAA Program Operations Team at wataa@esd.wa.gov or contact your TAA case manager. Use the WorkSource locator tool to contact a TAA case manager in your area.

Waiver review requirements

The first review is due 90 days from the waiver issue date. Then, we require reviews every 30 days to confirm that the waiver condition is still valid. You and your TAA case manager are both responsible for meeting to review an active waiver.