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 TAA, including the passage of a reauthorization bill by the Senate in September 2011.


Date of Report: September 27, 2011
Number of Pages: 22
Order Number: R42012
Price: $29.95

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