WIA Fact of the Day, Employment & Training Administration (ETA)

February 15, 2005

Question:

How would a Governor's decision to include TAA training in its WIA Plus Consolidated State Grant impact TAA participants? Would they still be eligible for training as under current law? Would they have to compete with teenagers, students, and other adults for funds that are traditionally reserved for them?

Answer:

A Governor's decision to include TAA training in its WIA Plus Consolidated State Grant would benefit TAA participants by providing them access to the myriad of services and benefits not available to them under the TAA program. Such services include case management and job counseling, which are typically funded through WIA programs.

If a Governor chooses to consolidate TAA training into the WIA Plus Consolidated State Grant, TAA participants who meet the training approval criteria provided under the TAA program would still have the same access to training as they do under current law. It is important to note that trade-affected dislocated workers would be able to receive Trade Readjustment Allowances (TRA) under the same conditions as current law because TRA would not be part of the WIA Plus Consolidated State Grant. In addition, TAA participants would continue to be eligible for the Health Coverage Tax Credit.

Governors would describe in their State Integration Plan how TAA participants would be served under the WIA Plus Consolidated State Grant, including how services would be maintained. This would ensure that TAA participants receive the training entitlement as spelled out under current law.