Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) is a federal program administered by the Department of Labor that provides additional support to workers who lose their jobs — or have hours and wages significantly reduced — as a result of increased imports or the relocation of U.S. production abroad.
Who qualifies for TAA
Workers may qualify if their employer certified with the DOL that job losses resulted from: increased imports of a similar product competing with the employer's goods, a shift of production to a foreign country (offshoring), or adverse secondary effects caused by trade-impacted firms in the supply chain. TAA is not automatic — the employer must file a petition, or workers can file a group petition through the state workforce agency.
What TAA provides
TAA benefits include: Trade Readjustment Allowances (TRA) — additional income support beyond regular UI, available for up to 130 weeks while enrolled in approved training; approved retraining in skills needed for new employment; job search allowance (up to $1,250); relocation allowance (up to 90% of moving expenses); and the Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC) for health insurance premiums.
The enrollment timeline
TAA has a strict enrollment deadline: workers typically must enroll in training within 26 weeks of separation or within 26 weeks of the certification date, whichever is later. Missing this deadline eliminates eligibility for TRA payments. Workers should apply immediately after a TAA certification is issued for their employer.
How to find out if your employer is TAA-certified
The DOL maintains a public database of TAA petitions and certifications at dol.gov. Search by employer name or state. Your state workforce agency's Rapid Response team can also identify whether your layoff event triggered a TAA investigation.