Connecticut Unemployment 4

April 20th, 2007 Posted by Amelia

Here’s the latest news from the Connecticut Dept. of Labor. The 24 employees of Fluidyne Manufacturing/Lorenz Industries were recently certified eligible to receive training and financial assistance under the Trade Adjustment Assistance, or TAA program. Fluidyne manufactured brass shut-off valves, and the workers have been laid off due to a trade imbalance. TAA provides benefits for workers who are affected when companies move production offshore, or by a change in the import/export balance. The eligibility also includes 3 staff members employed by Staffworks, Inc., an on-site employee leasing firm.

In 2006, the U.S. Dept. of Labor granted 1,426 petitions for TAA benefits to workers at companies negatively affected by balance of trade issues. Of those, 88% included ATAA benefits. A total of 837 petitions for TAA coverage were denied in 2006. The average petition processing time is 31 days. By law, the Dept. of Labor must make a ruling on the petition within 40 days.

Affected workers over the age of 50 will also qualify for the ATAA program. Special assistance available for these workers includes training and income in the form of Trade Readjustment Allowances. Eligible workers also receive job search and relocation allowances for workers who search for jobs outside their normal commuting area. Workers under TAA and ATAA often qualify for the Health Coverage Tax Credit, or HCTC, as well. The HCTC is administered by the IRS and provides a tax credit of 65% of qualified health insurance premium costs.

Workers who are in a TAA certified group and over the age of 50 may also qualify for ATAA, the Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance plan. Under ATAA, workers who accept a new job within 26 weeks of the lay-off may qualify for special wage subsidies. The new job must pay less than $50,000 to qualify for ATAA. Under this program, workers receive a wage subsidy of 50% of the difference between the income at their old job, and their new rate. The maximum benefit under the ATAA is $10,000 for up to two years. 

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Connecticut Unemployment 3

April 20th, 2007 Posted by Amelia

Nearly every toddler dreams of having a job playing with Legos when they grow up. For about 550 Connecticut workers, that dream came true, at least for a while. They worked through a leasing company at LEGO Systems, Inc. and their job description was assembling LEGO toy model kits. The workers were actually employed by an employee-leasing firm called Staff Management. Recently, though, LEGO outsourced and the Connecticut employees were laid off.

However, there is good news for the employees. They won’t get to play with LEGOs all day, but they will receive some serious help finding new jobs including training, and an allowance for the job search. If they move to accept another job, they’ll receive relocation benefits.

All of these Connecticut unemployment benefits are available through a U.S. Dept. of Labor program called Trade Adjustment Assistance, or TAA. The LEGO employees were recently certified as eligible for TAA and its related benefit, ATAA.

Under TAA, workers displaced due to import/export imbalances or a U.S. firm shifting production overseas may receive a wide array of employment services to help them find a new job comparable to the old one. Workers may be entitled to a special allowance to be used to fund a job search. In addition, many workers receive a transportation allowance under TAA to look for work in another area, outside their usual commuting range. Workers who find a job in another location may qualify for a special relocation allowance under TAA. Workers are also entitled to training under the program, to qualify for a well-paying job in another industry or field.

In 2006, the U.S. Dept. of Labor granted 1,426 petitions for TAA benefits to workers at companies negatively affected by balance of trade issues. Of those, 88% included ATAA benefits. A total of 837 petitions for TAA coverage were denied in 2006. The average petition processing time is 31 days. By law, the Dept. of Labor must make a ruling on the petition within 40 days. 

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Connecticut Unemployment 2

April 20th, 2007 Posted by Amelia

About 15 employees of NICE Systems were recently certified as eligible for Connecticut unemployment benefits under the Trade Adjustment Assistance program. NICE Systems produced telephone recording systems hardware and software. Affected workers over the age of 50 will also be eligible for Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance, or ATAA benefits.

Special assistance available for these workers includes training and income in the form of Trade Readjustment Allowances. Eligible workers also receive job search and relocation allowances for workers who search for jobs outside their normal commuting area.

The Connecticut Dept. of Labor mailed eligibility notices to the covered employees in late March. The notices inform the employees on the benefits that are available under the TAA and ATAA programs. Any worker who was laid off from Garrity Industries, Inc. during that period who does not receive an eligibility notice should contact the Connecticut Dept. of Labor.

Benefits under ATAA are an alternative to TAA benefits. Usually, a worker does not qualify for both. Under ATAA, older workers who accept a new job at lower wages may receive a wage subsidy for a period of time. The Trade Adjustment Assistance Program is usually known by the acronym TAA. The program was established by the Trade Act of 1974 to assist workers who are displaced by increased imports, or when a company moves production overseas. Benefits are available for both employees who lose their jobs, and for those whose hours or wages are reduced.

Workers who are in a TAA certified group and over the age of 50 may also qualify for ATAA, the Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance plan. Under ATAA, workers who accept a new job within 26 weeks of the lay-off may qualify for special wage subsidies. The new job must pay less than $50,000 to qualify for ATAA. Under this program, workers receive a wage subsidy of 50% of the difference between the income at their old job, and their new rate. The maximum benefit under the ATAA is $10,000 for up to two years. 

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Connecticut Unemployment 6

April 20th, 2007 Posted by Amelia

Connecticut manufacturers have been taking a hit lately as many companies turn to cheaper products and parts produced outside of the U.S. As a result, a number of Connecticut workers have been laid off, or had their hours and wages reduced drastically.

Now, there’s help on the way in the form of a Connecticut unemployment program called TAA, or Trade Assignment Assistance. TAA is funded by the U.S. Dept. of Labor. The most recent group to qualify for TAA in Connecticut is 38 employees of Hartford Technologies, who used to produce precision balls and bearings. The workers have recently been certified to receive TAA benefits by the U.S. Dept. of Labor.

Do TAA benefits really help? In 2006, the U.S. Dept. of Labor granted 1,426 petitions for TAA benefits to workers at companies negatively affected by balance of trade issues. Of those, 88% included ATAA benefits. A total of 837 petitions for TAA coverage were denied in 2006. The average petition processing time is 31 days. By law, the Dept. of Labor must make a ruling on the petition within 40 days.

The U.S. Dept. of Labor appropriated nearly $1 billion in funding for TAA and ATAA during 2006. This includes $259.4 for training, job search allowances, relocation expenses and program administration. The agency also budgeted $52 million from the Federal Unemployment Benefits and Allowances for ATAA benefits.

In 2006, 80,700 workers benefited from training under TAA. An additional 53,493 workers received TRA. Of those participants, 61% received occupational training, 13% received remedial education, 3% received customized training and 3% received on-the-job training. The average training duration was slightly over a year, at 59 weeks.

Special assistance available for these workers includes training and income in the form of Trade Readjustment Allowances. Eligible workers also receive job search and relocation allowances for workers who search for jobs outside their normal commuting area.

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Connecticut Unemployment

April 20th, 2007 Posted by Amelia

Here’s the latest news flash related to Connecticut unemployment.

According to the Connecticut Dept. of Labor, about 57 employees of Garrity Industries, Inc. have been certified to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) and Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance (ATAA) benefits. All of the employees were or will be laid off between January 29, 2006 and March 14, 2009. Garrity Industries, Inc. is a flashlight manufacturer.

In addition, 47 employees of Helikon Furniture, LLC have been certified to receive TAA and ATAA benefits. All the workers were laid off on February 27, 2007. Helikon Furniture is located in Wethersfield and produces wooden office furniture.

The Connecticut Dept. of Labor mailed eligibility notices to the covered employees in late March. The notices inform the employees on the benefits that are available under the TAA and ATAA programs. Any worker who was laid off from Garrity Industries, Inc. during that period who does not receive an eligibility notice should contact the Connecticut Dept. of Labor.

Special assistance available for these workers includes training and income in the form of Trade Readjustment Allowances. Eligible workers also receive job search and relocation allowances for workers who search for jobs outside their normal commuting area.

Benefits under ATAA are an alternative to TAA benefits. Under ATAA, older workers who accept a new job at lower wages may receive a wage subsidy for a period of time. Health coverage tax credits are also available to workers who receive TAA income support or ATAA wage subsidies. Workers who need to apply for unemployment, TAA or ATAA can do so over the phone or online.

The Trade Adjustment Assistance Program is usually known by the acronym TAA. The program was established by the Trade Act of 1974 to assist workers who are displaced by increased imports, or when a company moves production overseas. Benefits are available for both employees who lose their jobs, and for those whose hours or wages are reduced. 

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