Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) provides assistance to individuals who have been laid off due to the shift of production and/or import of articles/services from other countries. The goal of TAA is to assist workers in returning to employment through the services of the program. North Carolina’s TAA program is administered by the Division of Workforce Solutions (DWS).
Trade Readjustment Allowance (TRA) is one benefit of the TAA program which provides income support through weekly benefits. TRA benefits are subject to federal time and guideline restrictions.
You must be laid off from a trade-affected employer that is covered under a petition issued by the US Department of Labor. You must have worked for the employer at least 26 weeks in one year prior to separation and earned at least $30.00 in each of those weeks. In addition, certain critical deadlines must be met for enrollment in approved training.
TRA benefits are based on the same wages that are used to establish your UI claim. The weekly benefit amount will be the same as your UI claim.
A TRA claim should be filed at the same time you file your regular UI claim with DES. The TRA benefits will be paid after the exhaustion of all UI benefits.
Yes. TRA benefits are paid weekly.
Your weekly benefits will be paid by direct deposit or debit card.
Yes. TRA benefits are taxable.
If you are unable to meet the training deadline, a waiver may be issued for certain conditions. This waiver is required for eligibility to entitlement of TRA. DWS may issue a waiver if you are not enrolled in training by the established deadline.
A waiver is good for 30 days and no more than 6 waivers should be issued.
Yes. Reviews are required every four (4) weeks to monitor training attendance and continued eligibility for TRA.
Yes. You may submit a written appeal by mail, facsimile or email to the address contained in the determination.
A copy of your monetary determination will be mailed to you approximately 10 days after your TRA claim is filed.
You are required to search for work until you enter training. After training begins, training attendance verification is required.
Yes. A weekly certification is required for each benefit week.
You must always report your gross earnings for any work performed during any week you claim benefits. Each claim has an earnings allowance. Your earning allowance is the amount of money you can earn without reducing your weekly benefit amount. If you find a part-time job while receiving TRA benefits, you may earn up to your weekly earning allowance without affecting your benefits. Earnings over this amount are deducted dollar-for-dollar from your weekly benefit amount.