Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA):
Full Guide for 2026
TAA is the most generous retraining benefit available to displaced workers — covering full tuition, books, and a weekly income stipend for up to 2.5 years. If your job was lost to trade, offshoring, or outsourcing, you almost certainly qualify.
What TAA is — and who it was designed for
The Trade Adjustment Assistance program was created to compensate American workers whose jobs moved overseas or were eliminated by foreign competition. It is administered by the US Department of Labor through state workforce agencies.
Unlike WIOA which caps training at $3,000–$14,000 depending on state, TAA covers your full approved training costs with no dollar cap. Combined with the Trade Readjustment Allowance (TRA) income payments, TAA is the most comprehensive displacement benefit in the American workforce system.
TAA and WIOA can work together. If you qualify for TAA, your state workforce agency will typically sequence you into TAA training with WIOA supportive services (childcare, transportation) running alongside.
Who qualifies for TAA?
When a company has a mass layoff related to trade or offshoring, they or the workers can file a group petition. If certified, all workers in that group are covered automatically.
If work moved to Canada, Mexico, or any other US FTA country — you may qualify regardless of whether a petition was filed.
Call centers moved to India or the Philippines, manufacturing moved to China, back-office work moved to Eastern Europe — all trigger TAA eligibility.
Even if your specific employer is US-based, if your industry's job losses were caused by import competition, TAA coverage is available.
Full TAA benefits breakdown
Tuition, books, fees, tools, and certification exams. No dollar cap — your case manager approves a program, TAA pays for it.
Weekly income equal to your prior UI benefit rate. Paid for up to 130 weeks (2.5 years) while you are in approved training.
HCTC covers nearly three-quarters of your COBRA or marketplace health insurance premiums during training.
Covers travel and lodging costs when searching for a new job outside your local area.
If you must move to accept a new job, TAA covers up to $1,250 of relocation expenses plus 90% of moving costs.
Dedicated TAA case manager at your state workforce agency who coordinates all benefits and training approval.
How to apply for TAA
Search the DOL TAA petitions database at dol.gov/agencies/eta/tradeact. Enter your company name. If a certified petition exists, you are covered as a group member.
Call or visit within 26 weeks of your layoff to preserve all TRA income benefits. After 26 weeks, you lose the weekly stipend — only training coverage remains.
Your case manager walks you through this. Bring: proof of layoff, employer documentation of trade impact, government ID, and Social Security card.
Working with your case manager, identify an approved training program. TAA-approved programs are the same ETPL list used for WIOA.
Once approved, TRA payments begin and your training costs are paid directly to your provider. Your case manager handles the coordination.
Missing the 26-week deadline means forfeiting your TRA income payments permanently. Training benefits may still be available, but the weekly stipend cannot be recovered retroactively.
Industries with the most TAA certifications
Frequently asked questions
TAA is a federal program administered by the Department of Labor that provides benefits to workers who have lost their jobs due to foreign trade — including imports, offshoring, outsourcing to other countries, and in some cases, automation tied to trade impacts. It covers full retraining tuition plus weekly Trade Readjustment Allowance (TRA) income payments.
Workers qualify for TAA if their employer petitioned the DOL for TAA coverage and the petition was certified, OR if their job was moved to a country with a US free trade agreement (NAFTA/USMCA, etc.), OR if their employer shifted production to another country. Manufacturing workers, call center workers, and tech workers whose jobs were offshored are common TAA recipients.
TAA covers 100% of approved training costs (tuition, books, fees, tools). In addition, the Trade Readjustment Allowance (TRA) pays weekly income equal to your prior state unemployment benefit — typically $300–$600/week — for up to 130 weeks (2.5 years). A job search allowance of up to $1,250 and a relocation allowance of up to $1,250 are also available.
Apply through your state's American Job Center or workforce agency. Your employer may have already filed a petition on behalf of your entire workforce. First, search for your employer's petition on the DOL TAA petitions database. Then contact your state workforce agency within 26 weeks of layoff to preserve all TRA benefits.
You can receive TAA and WIOA services simultaneously, but TAA funding typically replaces rather than stacks with WIOA ITA funding for training costs. However, WIOA supportive services (childcare, transportation) can complement TAA training benefits. Work with your AJC case manager to optimize both.
Apply within 26 weeks (about 6 months) of your layoff date to qualify for TRA income benefits. After this deadline, you may still qualify for training benefits but will lose access to the weekly income support. Do not wait.
Check all your funding options
Between TAA, WIOA, Pell Grants, and state funds — most displaced workers are eligible for more than they realize. Use our funding stacker to see everything available to you.