UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION SPECIAL PROGRAMS

TRADE READJUSTMENT ALLOWANCES PROGRAM/TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Workers who have been totally or partially separated from their jobs because of increased foreign imports may be eligible for assistance under the Trade Adjustment Assistance/Trade Readjustment Allowances programs. The Trade Adjustment Assistance program can provide benefits associated with training, job search, relocation allowances, and other reemployment services. Trade Readjustment Allowances can provide weekly cash benefits.

When United States Department of Labor Certifies a group of workers as eligible for Trade Adjustment Assistance, the Department establishes an "impact date" identifying when layoffs or reduced work schedules began or threatened to begin because of increased competition from imports. All workers in the group may apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance. For workers in the group to be eligible for Trade Adjustment Assistance, they must have been laid off or put on a reduced work schedule on or after the impact date.

To apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance benefits a claimant should go the their local Job service of Florida office.

To qualify for Trade Readjustment Allowances you must:

• Be covered by a certification.
• Be laid off due to lack of work in adversely affected employment.
• Be laid off on or after the impact date and before the ending date of the certification.
• Have worked at least 26 weeks at wages of $30 or more a week in adversely affected employment with a single firm or subdivision in the 52-week period ending with week of separation (Up to 7 weeks of non-work for specified reasons, and up to 26 weeks of workers' compensation may be counted toward the 26 weeks.)
• Have been entitled to and have exhausted all rights to unemployment insurance benefits.
• Meet the same weekly work test applicable to claimants on regular unemployment compensation, including seeking and applying for and accepting work within your capabilities.
• Be enrolled in or have completed an approved job training program which is reasonably available, or receive a waiver from training if appropriate.

Explanation of Trade Adjustment Assistance/Trade Readjustment Allowances Program

The first week for which you may be eligible for Trade Readjustment Allowances must begin more than 60 days after the filing date of the petition which was certified by the U. S. Department of Labor.

If you do not qualify for Trade Readjustment Allowances, you may still be eligible for reemployment services, training, job search allowance, relocation allowance, and the job search program.

If you qualify for Trade Readjustment Allowances, the weekly amount of your Trade Readjustment Allowances will generally be the same as the amount of the State unemployment insurance benefits you were receiving immediately before you exhausted your rights to such benefits and became eligible for Trade Readjustment Allowances.

Your Trade Readjustment Allowances will be reduced by any earnings or other income you receive in the same way that such income would have reduced your weekly unemployment insurance benefits. Your Trade Readjustment Allowances will also be reduced by the amount of any Federal training allowance you are entitled to for the same week. (ex: Pell Grant). Your Trade Readjustment Allowances will also be reduced by any extended unemployment received.

If you qualify for Trade Readjustment Allowances, you will have a 104-week eligibility period in which you can be paid basic Trade Readjustment Allowances. This period will begin with the first week after you exhaust your regular unemployment insurance benefits. The maximum amount of Trade Readjustment Allowances you may receive during this period is limited to 52 times your Trade Readjustment Allowances weekly amount minus all unemployment insurance benefits which you were entitled to receive. For example, if you receive 26 weeks of regular unemployment insurance benefits and 13 weeks of extended benefits, you may receive up to 13 weeks of basic Trade Readjustment Allowances. You may, however, receive up to 52 additional weeks of Trade Readjustment Allowances if you enrolled in training by the later of (1) the last day of the 16th week following the week in which the worker was separated from the trade-affected employer or (2) the last day of the 8th week after the week in which the Secretary of Labor issues a certification covering the worker if such additional weeks are necessary for you to complete the approved training program. An additional 26 weeks of Trade Readjustment Allowances is available for qualified individuals who are approved for remedial training as a prerequisite for skills training.

Direct any questions for Trade Adjustment Assistance (tuition, reemployment services) to Mershal Noble at 1-800-342-3450 and for Trade Readjustment Allowances (cash benefits, unemployment inquiries) questions should be directed to

Charlie Davis at 850-921-3390.

Agency for Workforce Innovation
Division of Unemployment Compensation
Special Programs
P.O. Drawer 5350
Tallahassee, Florida 32314-5350

Instruction Sheet For Application For Trade Readjustment Allowances Benefits

Form ETA-855

Front Side:

1. Complete name, social security number, address and last occupation.

2. Complete items numbered 1,2,3,5,7,8, and 9.

Back side:

1. Complete items numbered 1 through 6.

2. Read Section D, sign and date.

Form UCB-TRA-345

Front side:

1. Complete all sections and sign.

Back side

1. Read and sign.

After these forms are completed, mail to:

Agency for Workforce Innovation
Division of Unemployment Compensation
Trade Readjustment Allowances Unit
P.O. Drawer 5350
Tallahassee, Florida 32314-5350

You should report immediately to your local Jobs and Benefits office to apply for an appropriate training program in order to receive Trade Readjustment Allowances benefits. Failure to do so will result in disqualification from receipt of future Trade Readjustment Allowances benefits.

If you do not understand this letter in English, please have it translated. The attached forms must be completed in English.

(Si usted no entiende esta carta en ingl‚s, por favor trad£zcala. Los formularios adjuntos deben ser llenados en ingl‚s.)

PHONE CALLS TO THIS OFFICE WILL NOT EXPEDITE YOUR DETERMINATION. PLEASE ALLOW 4 TO 6 WEEKS FOR YOUR ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION

Agency for Workforce Innovation

Division of Unemployment Compensation
Special Programs
P.O. Drawer 5350
Tallahassee, Florida 32314-5350

PLEASE READ, COMPLETE, AND SIGN BOTH OF THESE FORMS

Name:________________________

Social Security Number_____________________

I. Since your separation from _______________________________on _________

have you:

A. Been able and available for work? ____YES ____NO

If no, complete the following questions:

B. Been ill and/or Hospitalized? ____YES ____NO

C. Been out of town? ____YES ____NO

D. Had child care problems? ____YES ____NO

E. Had transportation problems? ____YES ____NO

Explain nature of problems and dates you were not able and available:

II. A. Are you receiving any retirement income? ____YES ____NO

If yes, date payments began:______________ Amount:___________

Percent contributed by you______%

Name of employer:____________________________________________

B. Are you a U.S. citizen? ____YES ____NO

If no, please provide alien registration number:__________________

III. A. Are you currently employed? ____YES ____NO

If yes, Date you began work:__________

Name of employer:______________________________________________

Claimant Signature_____________________________ Date________________

Agency for Workforce Innovation
Division of Unemployment Compensation
Special Programs
P.O. Drawer 5350
Tallahassee, Florida 32314-5350

NOTICE TO TRADE READJUSTMENT ALLOWANCE CLAIMANT

Section 250 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended, provides that as a condition for receiving Trade Readjustment Allowances under the provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), a claimant must participate in a training program approved by the Job Service of Florida, if appropriate or feasible. 

You should report immediately to your local Jobs and Benefits office to apply for an appropriate training program in order to receive Trade Readjustment Allowances benefits. Failure to do so will result in disqualification from receipt of Trade Readjustment Allowances benefits. 

North American Free Trade Agreement/Trade Readjustment Allowances regulations provide that you must be enrolled in a training program approved by the later of:

(1) the last day of the 16th week of such worker's initial unemployment compensation period or

(2) the last day of the 6th week after the week in which the Secretary of Labor issues a certification covering the worker.

The petition was certified on , the last day of the 6th week is .

In order to be eligible for Trade Readjustment Allowances benefits the law requires that you must be totally or partially unemployed, you must have exhausted all entitlement to any regular or extended Unemployment Compensation, you must be enrolled in an approved training program (if appropriate). You must also actively seek employment each week prior to the start of your training program.

Additionally, you may be required to accept any work which you are capable of performing. You may be disqualified from receiving Trade Readjustment Allowances benefits for refusing a job, refusing an appropriate training program, or for not actively seeking work prior to the start of your training program.

This certifies that I am aware of the above requirements of the Trade Readjustment Allowances program. I understand failure to comply with these requirements could result in disqualification from receipt of Trade Readjustment Allowances benefits.

Claimant Signature:____________________________ Date________________

LES FORM UCB/TRA-345 (3/93)