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Trade Adjustment Assistance – Benefits for Workers


The Trade Adjustment Assistance Program is a federal program that assists workers who lose their jobs or whose work hour or wages are reduced as a result of foreign competition or increased imports. 

The Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program provides a variety of reemployment services and training to workers who are negatively impacted including the opportunity to gain new skills, one-on-one coaching, resources and support in finding and gaining family-sustaining employment. 

To be eligible for the TAA program, an employer must first file a petition with the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL). Employers interested in learning more about filing a petition can visit our Trade Adjustment Assistance – Petition information for Employers page


Pennsylvania serves Trade affected workers in 22 Workforce Development Areas through in-person and virtual settings in our American Job Centers named PA CareerLink®. If your employer is TAA-certified, you can reach out to the local PA CareerLink® office near you for assistance in learning more about and enrolling in one of the TAA benefit programs below: 

Employment Services: 

The PA CareerLink® team will provide one-on-one career counseling and support services to you to help you meet your career goals. Skills assessments, individualized employment plans, information on training and the job market are all available through the TAA program to support you in finding your next job. 

Training:

The TAA program provides full financial assistance to cover any training costs needed to help eligible workers re-train to land a job in a high paying and high demand job. TAA covers the cost for tuition, books, fees and other required materials and supplies for your training and education. 

Approved training programs are diverse and include:

    • Classroom and Online Training  
    • Post-secondary education
    • Prerequisite education and Remedial education (Adult Basic Education, GED, English as a Second Language, etc.)  
    • On-the-job Training
    • Customized Training designed for a specific employer or group of employers
    • Apprenticeship Programs

Trade Readjustment Allowances (TRA):

The TAA program also includes TRA, which is income in the form of weekly cash payments for workers enrolled in a full-time training course and have exhausted their unemployment compensation. Individuals may be eligible to receive up to an additional 104-weeks of income support, if enrolled within 26-weeks of the TAA certification or individual separation date, whichever is later.

Reemployment Trade Adjustment Assistance (RTAA):

TAA participants age 50 or older who gain re-employment making less than their separation wage may be eligible for the RTAA benefit. RTAA is a wage subsidy that provides 50% of the difference between the separation wage and reemployment wage up to $10,000 or two-years, whichever occurs first.

Job Search Allowance:

For those willing to look for employment outside of their commuting area, the Job Search Allowance provides reimbursement costs for doing so. Job Search Allowance reimburses 90% of allowable costs incurred while attending a job interviews   up to $1,250.

Relocation Allowance:

If a worker is willing to relocate for employment outside of their commuting area, there is a relocation allowance available to reimburse the relocation costs. The Relocation Allowance benefit reimburses 90% of allowable costs   incurred to move the participant, family and household goods plus a one-time lump sum payment of $1,250.

It is important to maintain contact with your local PA CareerLink® to meet the required deadlines, ensure your meeting the guidelines and eligibility requirements to maintain your TAA benefits. 

Pennsylvania L&I Program Contacts:

  • For Trade Adjustment Assistance Program related questions, please contact the Bureau of Workforce Partnership & Operations Trade Act Services team via email at RA-LI-BWPO-TRADE@pa.gov.
  • For Trade Readjustment Allowances (TRA) and Unemployment Compensation, please contact the Office of Unemployment Compensation Benefits Policy’s Federal Programs Unit by phone at 717-787-4268.
  • For Reemployment Trade Adjustment Assistance or RTAA, please contact the Federal Programs Unit at RA-LIOUCBP-FEDP-ATAA@pa.gov