Notice:
Important Legislative Changes to the TAA Program
On October 21, 2011, President Obama signed the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Extension Act of 2011, which changes the group eligibility requirements, and individual benefits and services available under the Trade Adjustment Assistance program, for some workers. For more information on TAA changes and the new program established by this law, click here.
Petitions Filed after February 12, 2011 and before October 21, 2011
The changes to group eligibility requirements contained in the TAA Extension Act of 2011 are retroactive to February 12, 2011, and apply to all petitions filed since that time – petitions designated with numbers from TA-W-80,000 through TA-W-80,999
Denied Petitions
Any petition filed after February 12, 2011 and before October 21, 2011, that was denied is currently being reconsidered under the group eligibility provisions of the TAA Extension Act of 2011. Click here to see a list of petitions that the Department is reconsidering. If your petition is on that list, you do not need to file a new petition or take any other action for the Department to reconsider your petition.
Pending Petitions
If your petition is currently under investigation by the Department, it is being investigated according to the group eligibility requirements for the new program. No action by petitioners is necessary.
If your petition is certified after October 21, 2011 but before December 20, 2011 when the TAA Extension Act of 2011 benefits become available, you may begin receiving services under the 2002 Law through your local One-stop Career Center and then exercise the choice option discussed below.
Certified Petitions
Additionally, workers covered under certified petitions numbered TA-W-80,000 and above who are receiving TAA benefits and services under the program in effect before the TAA Extension Act of 2011 will have the option between December 20, 2011 and March 19, 2012, to choose to receive those benefits and services available under the new program established by the TAA Extension Act of 2011. The Department will provide additional information on this choice shortly.
The TAA Extension Act of 2011 does not change the group eligibility requirements, individual benefits or services available to workers covered under certified petitions numbered TA-W-60,000 through TA-W-69,999, or TA-W-70,000 through TA-W-79,999.
Petitions Filed on or after October 21, 2011 and on or before January 19, 2012
Finally, a certification covers all members of a worker group during the period beginning one year before the petition was filed, known as the impact date, and ending two years after the date of the certification. However, the TAA Extension Act of 2011 expands the time frame for certification coverage by making the impact date earlier for certain certifications. All petitions filed with the Department on or after October 21, 2011 and on or before January 19, 2012 that are certified will have an impact date of February 13, 2010.