How to Obtain TAA Benefits When your group has been certified as eligible to apply.

See Part 2, if your group has been certified as eligible to apply by the DOL (Department of Labor):

Trade Adjustment Assistance Application Process

How to Apply for TAA

Application Process Overview - Applications for the Trade Act Program as amended by the Trade and Globalization Adjustment Assistance Act of 2009 have two distinct phases:

1. To obtain TAA reemployment services and benefits a group of workers must first file a petition with the U.S Department of Labor's Trade Adjustment Assistance Program (TAA) requesting certification as workers adversely affected by foreign trade If the worker group meets the necessary group eligibility criteria a certification will be issued.

2. After a group certification is issued each worker in the group may then individually apply for services and benefits through their local One-Stop Career Center to determine individual TAA eligibility for services and benefits.
Who may file a petition - A petition may be filed by a group of three or more workers, by a company or public agency official by One-Stop operators or partners (including state employment security agencies and dislocated worker units) or by a union or other duly authorized representative of such workers The workers on whose behalf a petition is filed must be or have been employed at the firm or subdivision identified in the petition.

Assistance in preparing a petition - Petitioners may request assistance in preparing the petition by contacting the OTAA in Washington DC, at their local One-Stop Career Center or by contacting their State Dislocated Worker Unit Employment Security Agency. To locate such assistance workers may call 1-877-US2-JOBS, 1-877-889-5627(TTY), or visit the America's Service Locator Web site at: http://www.servicelocator.org. The OTAA may be contacted at 1-888-DOL-OTAA (1-888-365-6822).

Submitting a Petition - Once completed petitions must be signed Petitions filed by a group of adversely affected workers must be signed by at least three workers; petitions filed by any other authorized representatives require only one signature Once signed petitions must be filed with the OTAA and also with the State TAA Coordinator or Dislocated Worker Unit with responsibility for the area in which the worker group works.

Who is covered by the petition - A completed petition describes a group of workers working at a specific location for a specific company or public agency producing a specific product or group of products or services. If the group of workers described in the petition is certified, the certification will cover all workers in the group whether or not their names are on the petition.

You may also contact me with questions, and I'd be happy to offer any information or assistance I can.

Tiffany Tarpein| Education Consultant | New Horizons CLC
P: 512.349.9555 x2451 | F:512.349.2047 | C: 512.939.6491 | ttarpein@nhaustin.com