Trade Adjustment Assistance Program

About the TAA Program

Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) is a Federal program, administered by the state, that provides assistance to adversely affected workers who lose their job or whose hours of work and wages are reduced as a result of increased imports or whose firms, public agencies, or service-sector firms have been affected by, or are threatened to be affected by, shifts in production of articles or the supply of services to foreign countries. It also provides assistance to workers whose firm is a supplier or downstream producer to a firm that receives eligibility.

Trade Act Benefits

  • Reemployment and Case Management Services:

    Through the PA CareerLink One Stop Offices such as resume writing and interview skills workshops, employment counseling, and job search and referral programs are available to help certified workers market their skills more effectively and ensure workers are referred to suitable job openings and/or directed to appropriate training programs.

  • Job Search Allowances may be payable to cover expenses incurred seeking employment outside a certified worker's normal commuting area, if suitable employment is not available in the area.

  • Relocation Allowances may reimburse approved expenses when certified workers must move to a new area for suitable employment outside their normal commuting area.

  • Funded Training Up to 130-weeks of training may be available to certified workers who cannot secure suitable work in the local area with their current skills and background.

  • Reemployment Trade Adjustment Assistance (RTAA) Wage subsidy benefit for eligible Trade affected workers age 50 or older who obtain new full-time employment paying less than their Trade affected position.

  • Trade Readjustment Allowances (TRA) Extended income support benefits to provide support to workers while they are participating in full-time training.  Under certain circumstances, TRA is also available to certified workers for whom training is not feasible or appropriate if they meet the criteria for a Waiver of the Training Enrollment Requirement.

  • Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC) Workers may receive tax credits for 72.5% of the monthly health insurance premium they pay for certain qualifying health insurance coverage

Getting Started

1.) The first step is for an employer, three workers, union representative, or state agency representative to complete a trade petition. 

Click here to view the trade petition.

The petition must be properly completed and filed with the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) and the appropriate state agency. To request assistance with filing a petition, contact the Rapid Response Regional Representative at (570) 614-5994.

2.) After you have filed a petition, you can check the USDOL's petition search page here. If you have questions about a pending petition,

please call the USDOL at 888-365-6822.

Applying for TAA benefits

To be eligible for these benefits, a worker must file a TAA/TRA claim and request their Individual TAA Determination of Eligibility (Form FP-857) from the Unemployment Compensation (UC) Service Center at 1-888-313-7284 and select the option for Trade/TRA unit.

After you have been determined eligible for TAA benefits, you should also contact your local PA CareerLink® by going to www.pacareerlink.pa.gov and selecting the Help button in the top right hand corner, scroll down to PA CareerLink® office’s. Type in the your zip code and select miles, click the search button, a list of PA CareerLink® offices and contact information will be displayed by going to www.pacareerlink.pa.gov and selecting the Help button in the top right hand corner, scroll down to PA CareerLink® Office’s. Type in the your zip code and select miles, click the search button, a list of PA CareerLink® offices and contact information will be displayed