Trade Readjustment Allowance Program

Trade Readjustment Allowances and Trade Adjustment Assistance programs assist workers who have been totally or partially separated from their jobs because of increased foreign imports. The Trade program can provide weekly cash benefits that help with training, job search, relocation allowances, and other reemployment services.

Eligibility Requirements

The U.S Department of Labor certifies a group of workers as eligible for Worker Adjustment Assistance and establishes an "impact date" identifying when layoffs or reduced work schedules began, or threatened with a layoff to begin due to increased foreign competition. All workers in the group may apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance. To be eligible, the workers must have been laid off or have been put on a reduced work schedule on or after the impact date.

Answer the Questionnaire to see if you are eligible or review the qualifications listed below.

To qualify for Basic Trade Readjustment Allowances, a worker must:

1. Be covered by a certified Petition.
2. Be laid off due to lack of work by a trade-affected employer.
3. Be laid off on or after the impact date and no later than the expiration date of the certified Petition.
4. Have worked at least 26 weeks at wages of $30 or more a week with the trade-affected employer.
5. Have been employed by the trade-affected employer or a subdivision of the company during the year prior to the week of the layoff or reduced work schedule.
   NOTE: Workers’ Compensation and active military duty may be counted toward the 26 weeks. Up to seven weeks of authorized leave or full-time service as a representative of a labor organization in the firm may be counted as a part of the 26 weeks.
6. Have applied for and been entitled to unemployment insurance benefits.
7. Meet the same requirements for regular unemployment compensation, including seeking and applying for and accepting work within your capabilities unless otherwise instructed.
8. Be enrolled in approved full-time training or have completed the training with basic TRA benefits remaining.
9. Based upon the 2002 Amendments- Be enrolled in an approved full-time training program, or have a waiver from the training requirement, by (whichever is later):
   • the last date of the 16th week after the worker’s official separation from the trade-affected employer or
   • the last day of the 8th week after the U.S. Secretary of Labor issues a Certification covering the worker
10. Based on 2009 Ammendments - Be enrolled in an approved full-time training program, or have a waiver from the training requirement, by (whichever is later):
    • the last date of the 26th week after the worker’s official separation from the trade-affected employer or
    • the last day of the 26th week after the U.S. Secretary of Labor issues a Certification covering the worker

To qualify for Additional Trade Readjustment Allowances you must:

1. Have exhausted basic Trade Readjustment Allowance benefits.
2. Participate in Trade Adjustment Act-approved full-time training.

To qualify for Prerequisite/Remedial Trade Readjustment Allowances you must:

1. Have been approved for prerequisite and/or remedial training/coursework.
2. Have exhausted basic and extended Trade Readjustment Allowance benefits.

How to Apply

If you are an affected worker, you can apply for Trade Readjustment  Allowances (TRA) by  completing and faxing the following forms to the Special Programs Trade Readjustment Allowances Unit (TRA) at 850-921-3427 . To receive Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) training and other benefits you must visit your local One-Stop Career Center.

• (ATAA) Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance Application 
• Notice of Trade Benefits 
• Acknowledgment of TRA Eligibility Deadlines (2002) 
• Acknowledgment of TRA Eligibility Deadlines (2009) 
• DEO Acknowledgment of TRA Eligibility Deadlines (2011) 
• TRA Benefit Instructions 
• DEO Request for Determination of Entitlement to TAA/TRA 
• A Brief Overview of the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Program as Amended by the Act of 2002 
• A Brief Overview of the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Program as Amended by the Act of 2009 
• A Brief Overview of the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Program as Amended by the Act of 2011 
• (RTAA) Reemployment Trade Adjustment Assistance Application 
• Trade Adjustment Assistant Program (TAA) Special Programs Trade Readjustment Allowance (TRA) Unit Filing Option Advisory and Election 

Be sure to read Trade Readjustment Allowance Claiming Information before you apply.

Associated Programs

Health Coverage Tax Credit

The Health Coverage Tax Credit helps workers laid off due to foreign competition pay for private health insurance while they are out of work. Visit the Internal Revenue website or call 1-866-628-4282 for more information.

Reemployment Trade Adjustment Assistance is available to workers covered by certified petitions filed on or after May 18, 2009. Reemployment Trade Adjustment Assistance is designed to allow a wage subsidy for trade-affected workers when they become reemployed to help bridge the salary gap between their old and new employment.