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REFERENCES | WEBSITE | INQUIRIES 

Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance (ATAA) is a wage subsidy demonstration project for workers 50 years of age or older.  Some workers in firms with a significant number of workers over age 50, without easily transferable skills, who find reemployment may choose, in lieu of other Trade Adjustment Assistance benefits (TAA), to receive 50% of the difference between their new salary and old salary for two years, up to a maximum of $10,000.

Petitioners shall have the opportunity to request certification under the ATAA program based on the three following criteria:

1. A significant number of workers in the affected workforce are 50 years of age or older.

2. The workers possess skills that are not easily transferable.

3. The competitive conditions within the workers’ industry are adverse.

Individual workers must also satisfy the following:

• Be covered under a TAA certification.

• Obtain reemployment within 26 weeks after trade affected layoff.

• Be at least 50 years of age.

• Reemployment wages must not exceed $50,000 annually.

• Cannot return to the same job duties with trade-affected employer. Also cannot return to the same division/facility from which separated.

• Reemployment must be full-time (can be multiple employers; must apply separately for each employer).

• Overtime/bonus earnings are not considered when computing ATAA wage subsidy.

• Self-employment or work involving wages plus commission or piecework can be considered full-time if it meets the definition of full-time employment under applicable state law.

• Can reapply for ATAA if subsequent employment is obtained within two years from the date of original reemployment.

Eligible workers who choose ATAA may not receive training, Trade Readjustment  Allowances (TRA), job search allowances or relocation allowances.

REFERENCES

• Trade Act of 2002 (P. L. 107-210)

• TEGL 2-03 - Interim Operating Instructions for Implementing the Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance (ATAA) for Older Workers Program.

• TEGL 11-02 - Operating Instructions for Implementing the Amendments to the Trade Act of 1974 Enacted by the Trade Act of 2002

SUPERSEDES

None

WEBSITE

http://www.wa.gov/esd/policies

DIRECT INQUIRIES TO

Rob Mills
Employment Security Department
Unemployment Insurance Division, State Trade Readjustment Allowances Coordinator
P.O. Box 9046, MS 6000
Olympia, WA 98507-9046
E-Mail: rmills@esd.wa.gov
Telephone: (360) 902-9509
FAX: (360) 902-9790