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Department of Labor and Workforce Development
 
Employment And Training Services

TAA Benefits

Job Search Allowances

The Trade Act program offers job search allowances to help offset the costs of seeking work outside your local commuting area.  TAA will pay 90% of the costs of travel, food, and lodging up to a maximum of $1,250.00.

Job Search Allowance must always be pre-approved.  Trade Act cannot reimburse for job search expenses that were not pre-approved.  

Time limits: A job search allowance application must be submitted before:

  • the 365 th day after the date of the certification or the 365 th day after the date of the workers separation, whichever is later; or
  • the 182 nd day after the concluding date of approved TAA training.

To request job search allowances:

  1. Make sure you already have a Determination of Entitlement to Trade Adjustment Assistance (you must complete form 855)
  2. Set up interviews in the area of the job search.
  3. Complete the Job Search Request Forms.

Costs not allowed for reimbursement:

  1. medications/supplements
  2. tobacco products
  3. alcohol
  4. pet food/supplies
  5. books/magazines
  6. candy/gum
  7. other unnecessary items

Submit this information to the Trade Act Program Coordinator for approval:

Trade Adjustment Assistance Program Coordinator
PO Box 115509
Juneau, AK  99811
dol.taa@alaska.gov

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Relocation Allowances

TThe Trade Act program offers relocation allowances to help offset the costs for Trade Affected Workers with a Determination of Entitlement to relocate to a new area to accept suitable work.

TAA will pay 90% of the costs of moving the worker and immediate family, 90% of reasonable costs to move household goods and personal belongings, and will also issue a lump sum payment of up to $1,250 to help the worker get settled in the new area.

Relocation Allowances must always be pre-approved.  Trade Act cannot reimburse for relocation expenses that were not pre-approved.  

Time limits: A relocation allowance application must be submitted before:

  • the 425 th day after the date of the certification or the 425 th day after the date of the workers separation, whichever is later; or
  • the 182 nd day after the concluding date of approved TAA training.

In addition, a relocation must be completed within 182 days after the filing of the application for relocation assistance.  

To request relocation allowances:

Contact the Trade Act Program Coordinator

Trade Adjustment Assistance Program Coordinator
Phone: (907) 465-6275
Email: dol.taa@alaska.gov

 

Employer-Based Training
(Formally called On-The-Job Training, or OJT)

There are many times when the best candidate for a job is not necessarily the most qualified. Sometimes the best candidate has a positive attitude, but lacks specific skills needed for the work. Employers frequently interview job seekers that would be good hires, if training were available to better prepare them.

The Trade Act program offers employer based training opportunities. This gives employers the chance to tap into a pool of workers who are good candidates but may need additional training to be qualified.

Employer benefits:

  • The Trade Act program pays 50% of the workers wages by reimbursing the employer. 
  • The employer has the opportunity to train employees to meet their specific needs.
  • The employer gets a dedicated, hard working employee.

Worker benefits:

  • The worker gets full-time employment and earns a competitive wage.
  • The worker can explore job opportunities they may be interested in, but would never have qualified for previously due to lack of experience.  

Employer Based Training Approval Criteria:  Before an Employer Based Training plan is approved six criteria must be met.

  1. There is no suitable employment available for the adversely affected worker.
  2. The worker would benefit from appropriate training, as it should provide necessary skills to gain employment and be within the worker's abilities to complete.
  3. There is a reasonable expectation of employment following completion of such training. This emphasizes favorable market conditions for the employment sought after training.
  4. Training is reasonably available to the worker from either public or private providers, which includes access to a variety of training, a variety of institutions, and training outside of the commuting area as necessary.
  5. The worker is qualified to undertake and complete training. The individual has the appropriate educational background, work experience, and the financial resources to complete the training.
  6. Such training is appropriate for the worker and available at a reasonable cost. Reasonable cost is based on: the total cost of program, including training, related expenses, travel or transportation costs, and subsistence expenses.

Employer Based training must meet the six conditions for training approval above plus eight additional conditions:

  1. No currently employed worker must be displaced.
  2. The training must not impair existing contracts or collective bargaining agreements.
  3. If the training is in any way inconsistent with the terms of a collective bargaining agreement, the labor organization must give written concurrence.
  4. No employee in the job the individual is being trained for may be on lay-off status.
  5. The employer must not terminate an employee to fill the position.
  6. The position must not infringe on the promotional opportunities of currently employed workers.
  7. The position or training must not be in the same occupation from which the individual was separated from adversely affected employment.
  8. The employer must not have failed to meet any of the first six conditions for other Employer Based training programs funded by Trade Act.

Length of Training:

Trade Act approved Employer Based Training must be full-time training. The training should be of sufficient length to achieve the desired skill level in the shortest possible time. Maximum length of training is 104 weeks.

Employer Based Training Reimbursements:

Payments to employers for Employer Based Training cannot exceed 50 percent of the prevailing wage paid by the employer to Employer Based Training participants. No reimbursements may be made for fringe benefits, holidays, overtime hours, or hours in excess of 40 hours per week. The contract with the employer must provide for equal monthly payments. This will normally be the contracted cost of the training divided by the duration of the training program in months.

If necessary to the skills training, job-related classroom training or other required job related training can be paid, provided they are approved in advance and are a legitimate part of the training program.

Payments to the Employer:

Requests for reimbursement must be accompanied by timesheets (provided) covering the appropriate time period (monthly) and must be signed by the individual and the employer. Requests for reimbursement should be provided to the Trade Act Coordinator for verification. Reimbursement will be mailed directly to the employer.

Tools and Equipment:

The Trade Act program may pay tools and equipment required as part of the normal materials needed in the position. Tools should be negotiated as part of the contract before the individual starts the training program. In the event the individual terminates from training before completing the training, the tools must be returned to the Trade Act program.

The Employer Based Training contract is a binding contract between an employer who is offering the training program to the worker and the Employment Security Division, TAA  program.

All other criteria followed for regular Training (see below) applies to Employer Based Training.  

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Customized Training

Customized training is training designed to meet the specific requirements of a firm or group of firms, but is conducted by a separate training vendor.  In customized training, the trainee is not employed by the firm or group of firms for which the training is designed.  

Customized Training means training that is:

  • designed to meet the special requirements of an employer or group of employers;
  • conducted with a commitment by the employer or group of employers to employ an individual upon successful completion of the training; and
  • for which the employer pays for a significant portion (but in no case less than 50 percent) of the cost of such training, as determined by the TAA Program Coordinator.  

All other criteria followed for regular Training (see below) applies to Customized Training.  

Training

Not everyone who is eligible to participate in the TAA program will need training. Trade-impacted individuals work with staff in the local One-Stop or Job Center to determine what type of services are needed and whether or not training is needed to find a new job.

Time Frames:

  1. 104 weeks maximum for regular training programs.
  2. An additional 26 weeks of training is allowed for remedial education for a maximum total of 130 weeks. 
  3. In order to collect Trade Readjustment Allowances (TRA), must be enrolled in approved training within 26 weeks of separation or 26 weeks of company certification.  Under approved extenuating circumstances, an additional 45 days may be allowed.  

Training Approval Criteria:

Before training is approved, six criteria have to be met.

  1. There is no suitable employment available for the adversely affected worker.
  2. The worker would benefit from appropriate training, as it should provide necessary skills to gain employment and be within the worker's abilities to complete.
  3. There is a reasonable expectation of employment following completion of such training. This emphasizes favorable market conditions for the employment sought after training.
  4. Training is reasonably available to the worker from either public or private providers, which includes access to a variety of training, a variety of institutions, and training outside of commuting area as necessary.
  5. The worker is qualified to undertake and complete training. The individual has the appropriate educational background and work experience and the financial resources to complete the training.
  6. Such training is appropriate for the worker and available at a reasonable cost. Reasonable cost is based on: the total cost of program, including training, related expenses, travel or transportation costs, and subsistence expenses.

To request training, a completed training packet must be submitted to the State Trade Act Coordinator. 

Once training is approved, the Trade Act program will pay 100% of the costs for tuition, books, supplies, fees, required tools, and travel to training, if applicable. TAA will pay travel subsistence if you are commuting over 55 miles one way. If your training is located outside the local commuting area and you are maintaining two separate households you may be eligible for subsistence.

To maintain your funding while in training you must:

All training requests must be pre-approved before beginning training. In no instance can the Trade Act program reimburse you for classes already taken.

Any changes to an already approved training plan must be submitted in writing to the Trade Act Program Coordinator.

Trade Adjustment Assistance Program Coordinator
Phone: (907) 465-6275
Email: dol.taa@alaska.gov

Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance (ATAA) / Reemployment Trade Adjustment Assistance (RTAA)

Workers in firms with a significant number of workers over age 50, without easily transferable skills, may choose to receive a wage subsidy which is a payment of 50 percent of the difference between pre-layoff wages and their reemployment wages.  The maximum allowable over a two-year period is $10,000.    

  • The company must be approved for ATAA/RTAA as well as regular TAA.
  • The worker who applies for ATAA/RTAA must be at least age 50.
  • Full-time employment must be obtained within 26-weeks of the separation date from the Trade certified company.
  • The new employment must be full-time, and cannot pay over $50,000 per year.
  • The worker is not eligible for regular TAA training, job search, or TRA benefits if the ATAA/RTAA program is chosen.
  • The worker is eligible for HCTC.
  • The worker is eligible for relocation allowances.
  • If the worker has more than one job, the employment must meet the definition of full-time work as defined by state law.
  • Proof of reemployment wages must be sent to the TAA central office every 30-days. 

Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC)

The HCTC is a Federal tax credit offered to eligible Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Program recipients to help make an individual’s health insurance premium payments more affordable. The program is administered by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The HCTC pays 72.5 percent of qualified health insurance premiums for eligible individuals and their families for a limited time. The HCTC acts as partial reimbursement for premiums paid for qualified health insurance coverage and can now be claimed for qualified coverage through 2019.

The HCTC program does not provide health insurance coverage. This is NOT an insurance plan. It is a tax credit. If determined eligible, you can choose between the Advance Tax Credit Option, effective January 1, 2017 OR Pay 100% of the premium and claim the tax credit on your tax return.

  • Eligibility - You may be eligible to elect the HCTC only if you are one of the following:
    • An eligible trade adjustment assistance recipient, Alternative TAA recipient or Reemployment TAA recipient,
    • An eligible Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation payee, or
    • The family member of an eligible TAA, ATAA, or RTAA recipient or PBGC payee who is deceased or who finalized a divorce with you.
       
  • You are not eligible for the HCTC if you:
    • Can be claimed as a dependent on another person’s federal income tax return or
    • Are enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, or the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program or are eligible to receive benefits under the U.S. military health system (TRICARE)
       
  • How do I participate?
    • Apply for benefits and services through the Trade Act Program
    • The State of Alaska TAA office will then make an initial eligibility determination and send notice to both you and the IRS’s HCTC Program if you are eligible.
    • HCTC Eligibility Information Guide (PDF) (published by Alaska TAA Program)
       
  • Go to IRS HCTC website for information and to enroll:
    https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/hctc
  • If you choose advance monthly payments, use this link to apply and enroll through the IRS:
    • Enroll in Advance Monthly Payments of HCTC
    • Questions and answers about enrolling
  • If you choose to receive the annual tax credit, pay 100% of your monthly health insurance and then file IRS Form 8885 when you file your annual federal income taxes. Timely pay your monthly health insurance premiums.

    BE SURE TO KEEP A COPY OF ALL OF YOUR DOCUMENTS FOR YOUR RECORDS