Laid-Off Manufacturing and Ag Workers eligible for $10,000, Other Benefits

Posted on | May 22, 2009 | No Comments

If you were laid off from your job in the manufacturing or agriculture industry, you may be eligible for 104 weeks of job training and income support, reimbursement of job search and relocation expenses and a 65% tax credit on health care premium costs.  Eligible workers 50 and over will receive a wage subsidy of up to $10,000 or the difference between their old wage and their new wage, whichever is greater, for up to 2 years.

Learn more about TAA benefits.

How Is This Possible?

From whence does this bonanza spring?  The Trade Adjustment Assistance Act of 1974.  Under the law, workers who are laid off or have their hours reduced due to trade policies, including outsourcing, increased importing or a shift in production to offshore facilities may apply for certification as TAA-eligible workers.

Whose Eligible?

Currently, only agriculture, manufacturing and some public sector workers are eligible, but, if Senators Smith and Rangel’s Trade Adjustment Assistance Improvement Act is approved this year, some private, service sector workers, including computer programmers, designers and aircraft maintenance workers may be eligible.

In addition to working in the TAA-approved industries, you must have been laid off no more than 1 year ago, or have had your wages or hours reduced no more than 1 year ago, to be eligible.

How Do I Apply?

To apply for certification, you and 2 other workers from the same firm at the same job location must submit a Petition Form to the U.S. Department of Labor.  The form may also be completed by a union official, a state or local agency representative in a local One Stop Career Center, your boss or another official from your former employer.

You must file the Petition Form with BOTH the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, DC and the TAA coordinator or the
dislocated worker office of the state where your employer or public agency is located.

There are 3 ways to apply:

1. Apply online
   
2. Apply by fax: Download form and fax the completed Petition Form to 202-693-3584 or 202-693-3585
3. Apply by mail:

U.S. Department of Labor
Trade Adjustment Assistance Program
200 Constitution Ave NW, Room N-5428
Washington, DC 20210

To file with the TAA coordinator or the dislocated worker office in your state:
Locate your state TAA coordinator online, or call 877-US2-JOBS or 877-889-5627 (TTY)

Deadlines

You must date and submit the Petition Form within 1 YEAR from the date on which you were laid off or had
your hours and/or wages reduced.  You can check the status of your app online after submission.

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