Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for Workers is a federally funded program, with no costs to employers, that helps workers who are adversely affected by foreign imports or job shifts to a foreign country. Assistance is provided to eligible workers in the form of reemployment services, training, job search, relocation, and support benefits in the form of Trade Readjustment Allowances (TRA) and/or Alternative/Reemployment Trade Adjustment Assistance (ATAA/RTAA) for older workers.
Under the current law governing the TAA program, the program expired on July 1, 2022, and phase-out activities began. However, TWC will continue to determine eligibility and provide services to workers covered under certified petitions.
On this page:
Customers
The TAA program serves those who are adversely affected by foreign imports or job shifts to a foreign country. This program seeks to provide adversely affected workers with opportunities to obtain the skills, credentials, resources, and support necessary to become reemployed. To qualify, applicants must be laid off from a job covered under a trade petition certified by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Due to the program termination, DOL will not certify new petitions after June 30, 2022.
Benefits and services available to certified trade-impacted workers vary depending upon the Trade law in effect at the time of DOL certification. Broadly speaking, the benefits and services include the following:
| Benefits & Services | Description |
|---|---|
| Employment and Case Management Services | Skill assessments, career counseling, job search assistance, information on training, and more. |
| Training | Vocational and remedial training. The maximum duration of TAA-supported training will vary between 104 and 156 weeks, dependent on petition number. |
| Trade Readjustment Allowances (TRA | Wage subsidies for workers enrolled in full-time training who are enrolled no later than their waiver/in training deadline date. The maximum duration of TRA support will vary between 104 and 156 weeks, dependent on petition number and course of training. |
| Alternative/Reemployment Trade Adjustment Assistance (A/RTAA | A wage subsidy for up to 2 years available to workers age 50 or over who are reemployed at annual wages of $50,000 or less. |
| Job Search Allowance | Reimbursement for job search costs outside the worker's local area. |
| Relocation Allowance | Reimbursement for relocation costs for a job outside the worker's local area. |
Additional information on benefits and services are available at the DOL website.
Reports
Pursuant to Texas Labor Code §302.007, TWC is required to submit the Trade Adjustment Assistance Annual Report to the Texas Legislature. This report provides data regarding job placement, job retention, earnings, and the industries of workers who took jobs following a training program.
Authority & Funding
The U.S. Department of Labor oversees the TAA program. At the state level, TWC administers and oversees TAA, and shares in the delivery of TAA services with the 28 Workforce Development Boards (Boards).
The U.S. Department of Labor allocates funds to the states to pay for administrative and operational costs. TWC then distributes funds to the Boards.
TAA is governed by the following:
Tips & Guides
Access the TAA Handbook and additional information about specific program benefits and related services.
TAA Handbook
- Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Handbook 2022
Helpful Links
Service
Report Fraud
- Report suspected fraud, waste or program abuse 800-252-3642
