The Trade Act programs offer a weekly payment called Trade Readjustment Allowances (TRA). When workers first seek assistance, even before it is determined that they are eligible for TAA and/or NAFTA-TAA, they may receive unemployment compensation, which is a weekly income support payment.

If a worker is eligible for TAA and/or NAFTA-TAA, they may be able to continue receiving weekly income support payments in the form of TRA after the exhaustion of unemployment compensation benefits.

TRA payments are intended mainly for workers who are enrolled in approved, full time training.

Basic TRA

Basic TRA usually lasts 26 weeks. To receive basic TRA payments under a TAA certification, the worker must be enrolled in or have completed TAA-approved training subsequent to a total or partial separation or been granted a written waiver of the training requirement.

Additional TRA

Additional TRA can be paid for 26 more weeks, in a continuous 26 week period. These additional TRA weekly cash payments are available to assist a worker completing an approved TAA training program.