U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
Washington, D. C. 20210

CLASSIFICATION

 

CORRESPONDENCE SYMBOL

 

ISSUE DATE

November 23, 1992

RESCISSIONS

None

EXPIRATION DATE

November 30, 1993

DIRECTIVE

:

GENERAL ADMINISTRATION LETTER NO. 2-93

 

TO

:

ALL STATE EMPLOYMENT SECURITY AGENCIES
 

FROM

:

Barbara Ann Farmer
Administrator for Regional Management
 

SUBJECT

:

Notification to Adversely Affected Workers of Certification of Eligibility to Apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Benefits

 

  1. Purpose: To ensure that State agencies notify adversely affected workers of certification of eligibility to apply for TAA benefits.

  2. References: Trade Act of 1974, as amended, Chapter 2, Subchapter A -- Petitions and Investigations, Section 225, Benefit Information to Workers; and Section B of APPENDIX A to GAL 15-90, dated August 21, 1990.

    Background: Recently staff from the General Accounting Office (GAO) testified before the United States Senate Committee on Finance on the results of its study of Economic Dislocation and Worker Adjustment Assistance (EDWAA) and TAA programs in three States. Of particular note was testimony that many TAA participants "did not receive training in their first 15 weeks of unemployment." GAO went on to testify that, "delays in the delivery of TAA training assistance were generally due to the worker certification and notification process." GAO, also testified that once workers are certified, notices of eligibility may take up to 60 days and that workers may have to wait a total of 4 months before they receive any TAA assistance.

  3. State Responsibility: States have a positive responsibility, under provisions of Section 225 of the Trade Act, Benefit Information to Workers, to provide individual notices to adversely affected workers of certification of eligibility to apply for TAA benefits. These notices should be sent to individuals at the earliest possible time after the Department of Labor issues an affirmative determination on a TAA petition investigation. Operating instructions on State responsibilities for providing benefit information notifications to adversely affected workers are issued at Section B of APPENDIX A to GAL 15-90, dated August 21, 1990.

  4. Action Required: States must inform all appropriate staff of this GAL and ensure that notifications to adversely affected workers are provided in accordance with the TAA program operating instructions at Section B of APPENDIX A to GAL 15-90.