Search Penny Hill Press

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for Workers


Benjamin Collins
Analyst in Labor Policy

Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for Workers provides support to qualifying workers who have been adversely affected by foreign trade. The two largest components of the TAA program for workers are (1) training assistance for workers who have lost their jobs directly due to increased imports or shifts in production out of the United States, and (2) income support for these workers who have exhausted their unemployment compensation. Certified workers who cannot obtain employment in their local commuting area may also be eligible for job search and relocation allowances. Some workers aged 50 or older are eligible to participate in Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance (ATAA), a wage supplement program. Both TAA- and ATAAeligible workers can receive a Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC), which provides a refundable tax credit to offset a portion of qualified health insurance premiums.

This report provides background on the TAA and ATAA programs, including eligibility criteria, available benefits, and program participation data. It also discusses the temporary changes made to TAA by the Trade and Globalization Adjustment Assistance Act (TGAAA), which was enacted as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA, P.L. 111-5). This report concludes by discussing recent congressional action on the reauthorization of TAA and its relationship to pending free trade agreements.



Date of Report: September
21, 2011
Number of Pages:
22
Order Number: R4
2012
Price: $29.95

Follow us on TWITTER at
http://www.twitter.com/alertsPHP or #CRSreports

Document available via e-mail as a pdf file or in paper form.
To order, e-mail Penny Hill Press or call us at 301-253-0881. Provide a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover card number, expiration date, and name on the card. Indicate whether you want e-mail or postal delivery. Phone orders are preferred and receive priority processing.