Trade Readjustment Allowances (TRA) are weekly income support payments, similar to Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits, that may be available to TAA-eligible workers after all UI benefits are exhausted.
There are several TRA eligibility requirements that must be met, but most importantly you must be enrolled in approved training or have a waiver of training within a specified number of weeks after you are dislocated from your trade-affected employer or from the date the petition is certified by DOL, whichever is later.
The number of weeks for this deadline ranges from 8 weeks to 26 weeks, depending on your petition number. You will be informed of your exact deadline date on the Benefit Rights and Obligations form during your initial enrollment into the program.
If you are TAA eligible it is imperative that you contact your local SC Works Center and request a TAA Workforce Consultant or email TradeInfoSC@dew.sc.gov as early as possible and stay in touch regularly to ensure all of your qualification requirements are met.
If you have not filed for Unemployment Insurance, click here for more information.