Trade Act of 1974, as amended and Workforce Investment Act (WIA)
Comparison Chart
Trade Act of 1974, as amended
WIA Core  First, U.S. DOL must have certified a group of workers as eligible to
Services/ apply for TAA.
Eligibility
 TAA-eligible individuals must have been totally or partially separated
from employment at the facility or division specified by the certification
during the period covered by the certification. The CT DOL UI Technical
unit determines TAA-eligibility, which must precede eligibility to apply
for individual benefits under the Trade Act of 1974 as amended.
 One TAA benefit, TRA (income support), requires that the worker have
at least 26 weeks of work for the employer during a 52-week period and
at least $30.00 per week in earnings. A worker must also be enrolled in
TAA-approved training, have completed TAA-approved training or been
issued a waiver by CT DOL of the training requirement, by either the last
day of the 8th week after the week in which the certification was issued or
the last day of the 16th week following the most recent qualifying
separation (8/16 deadline). The CT DOL UI Technical unit determines
TRA-eligibility.
 Another TAA benefit, the Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC), requires,
in part, that the worker remain TRA-eligible.
The UI Technical Unit schedules a Trade Act Benefit Rights Interview
TAA Benefit workshop for TAA-eligible workers at the local office to provide detailed
Rights Workshop / information on all benefits and their related requirements. (CT DOL staff
Access to conducting the Trade Act BRI also issues a training waiver to satisfy the 8/16
Intensive Services
deadline and preserve benefit options.)
Important things to keep in mind:
If someone from a trade certified company is interested in WIA services, it is important for the WIA and Trade staff to work as a team in developing an
employment plan. For someone to receive trade benefits there must be only one employment plan that must be approved by CTDOL.
If someone from a trade certified company has a WIA plan, that hasn’t been approved by trade staff, the person may no longer have access to trade benefits.
Workforce Investment Act
All customers are provided with information about and
access to all universal services. Individual and/or group
orientation sessions are held at the local CT Works
office locations. Interested parties will receive an
overview of services available through CT Works, tour
the applicable facility and be invited to workshops.
Those who are interested in more intensive services and/or
training services are referred to an orientation session. The
orientation includes information about eligibility, services
available, required progression of services etc.
WIA Dislocated Worker Eligibility
People may be certified as dislocated workers upon notice of
layoff. When there are plant closings, they may receive
services up to six months before actual layoff. Once they are
certified they are eligible for any and all WIA intensive and
training services. There is no exact time frame during which
this must be done.
In order to move into intensive services the person must
have been certified as a dislocated worker, completed the
WIA Orientation Packet, a two week job search log, two
workshops, the career self-assessment survey and have been
determined to be unable to obtain or retain employment
through such services.
 Trade Act of 1974, as amended Workforce Investment Act
TAA The CTDOL career development specialist and the trade-impacted Intensive services may include comprehensive and specialized assessments
Assessment, worker, usually at the time of the required 30-day waiver follow-up, of skill levels and service needs, development of an individual employment
Plan, & Benefits conduct an employment & training assessment and develop a plan, counseling and career planning, case management for participants
/ Intensive and reemployment plan (JS-51). This plan may include training, seeking training services, and short-term pre-vocational services.
Training requiring approval by CT DOL, Program Support/Trade Act Unit.
Services Additional benefits may include:
Training services may be made available to dislocated workers who have
 TRA (Income Support) met the eligibility requirements for intensive services, have received at
 Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC) least one intensive service and have been determined to be unable to obtain
or retain employment through such services. The worker needs to have the
 Job Search Allowances
skills and qualifications to successfully complete the training program and
 Relocation Allowances training must be directly related to employment opportunities.
 If applicable, Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance

Training Details TAA-approval of a training plan may occur if there is no suitable Training must be chosen from the State’s Eligible Training Provider
employment available to the worker, the worker would benefit from List (ETPL), in consultation with the case manager. The list includes
appropriate training, there is reasonable expectation of employment over 1,000 training programs throughout the state. The ETPL has
following training, training is reasonably available at a reasonable information on each school, program and provider’s prior
cost, the worker is qualified to obtain or complete the training, and performance. Entrepreneurial training is available.
TAA funding is available for the training. No individual shall be
entitled to more than one training program under a single Individuals may choose training options that cost more than the maximum
certification. Training must be full time as defined by the training allotted by local policy, when other sources of funds are available such as
facility, must not exceed 104 weeks (130 if remedial training Pell grants, scholarships, severance pay and/or other sources.
precedes skill training), and total training related costs do not exceed
$23,000. Training does not need to be on the ETPL. Training cannot Training may be part-time or full-time. Approximately $3,000 is allotted
involve any self-financing (except for portions of training already for training under WIA.
completed and funded prior to seeking TAA-approval). TAA cannot
approve Entrepreneurial training or training that leads to self-
employment. Participation in training that cannot be TAA-
approved may require an active search for full time employment
and could preclude receipt of TRA and HCTC benefits.

TAA Training TAA pays for books, uniforms, mileage and other training related WIA can pay for child care and transportation, and other requirements such
Related expenses as part of total training costs. Certifications and licenses are as books, uniforms, certifications, licenses etc.
Expenses / not TAA funded unless occupationally required and provided for as
Additional part of the program offered by the training vendor.
Supports

Rev. 1/2007