Trade Adjustment Assistance

The TAA Program is expected to sunset on June 30, 2022. While it is likely that it will be reauthorized, we still want to keep you informed on the status of the program as it stands. If the program does sunset, participants will continue to be funded by TAA as long as they are in good standing. Qualified employees laid off on or before June 30, 2022, can still register to participate in the program even after the sunset date. For more information regarding TAA sunsetting, please schedule an appointment with a TAA Workforce Consultant or email the TAA Administrative Team at TradeInfoSC@dew.sc.gov. 

 

Trade Adjustment Assistance

The Trade Act, administered by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), provides support to workers who have lost their jobs due to increased imports, a shift in production, or a service that moved to another country. Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) is a program provided through the Trade Act that offers one of the most comprehensive packages of benefits and support available to impacted dislocated workers.

Benefits and Services

The goal of the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program is to help affected workers become reemployed in a suitable job as quickly as possible by providing benefits and services tailored to their needs, including:

  • Training.
  • Income support while in training.
  • Job search allowances.
  • Relocation allowances.
  • Older worker wage subsidy.

*Note: Due to congressional changes, the benefits under different sets of petition numbers may vary slightly.

To determine whether you qualify for TAA, has your employer, or will your employer:

  • Move production outside of the United States,
  • Outsource jobs outside of the United States,
  • Compete with foreign companies,
  • Import from foreign suppliers,
  • Suppliers impacted by foreign competition, or
  • Lose your job, or will lose your job, through no fault of your own.

If you answered 'yes' to any of the following questions, you may be eligible for services and benefits provided under the TAA program.

If you answered 'no' to all of the questions above, TAA may not be an option for you. However, you should consider the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.

DOL uses petitions to determine a worker group’s eligibility.  Below you will find the outline of how the petition process flows. It is important to understand that petitions don’t specifically apply to companies; they are filed on behalf of affected worker group. In many cases the worker group that is determined to be eligible to apply for TAA benefits through their local workforce center is the entire company.

taa brochure graphic

Petitions can be filed with DOL by:
 

  • Two affected workers,
  • A union or appropriate labor representative,
  • The employer,
  • State Office of Trade Adjustment Assistance, or
  • A local SC Works Center representative.

To find out if your company already has an existing petition or to file a petition, visit DOL's website here.

Select one of the links below to learn more about the benefits offered under the TAA program.

Resources

For additional assistance, please contact TradeInfoSC@dew.sc.gov