TAA July/August Newsletter

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TAA Contacts

General TAA Contact
651-259-7543
1-888-234-1330
deed.taa@state.mn.us
Fax: 651-296-0288 

Anthony Alongi, Director
651-259-7528
anthony.alongi@state.mn.us

Deb Schlekewy, Coordinator
651-259-7570
debra.schlekewy@state.mn.us 

Amy Carlson, Senior TAA &
Performance Specialist
651-259-7542
amy.carlson@state.mn.us

Carrie Fink,  Senior TAA Specialist / Rapid Response
651-259-7252
carrie.fink@state.mn.us

Jason Wadell, Senior TAA Specialist / Rapid Response
651-259-7552
Jason.wadell@state.mn.us

Adele Cloutier, TAA Specialist (0, 1)
651-259-7566
Adele.cloutier@state.mn.us    

Cindy Boyle, Senior TAA Specialist  (2, 3)
651-259-7551
cynthia.boyle@state.mn.us 

Olajide Williams, TAA Specialist (4, 9)
651-259-7431
Olajide.x.williams@state.mn.us

Kelly Källi, TAA Specialist
(5, 6)
651-259-7527
kelly.kalli@state.mn.us 

Sarah Saito, TAA Specialist
(7, 8)
651-259-7546
sarah.saito@state.mn.us

Trade Readjustment
Allowance
deed.tra@state.mn.us

TAA Reauthorization 

The TAA team has excellent news to share.  The Trade Adjustment Assistance Reauthorization Act of 2015 (TAARA 2015) was signed into law by President Obama June 29, 2015.  TAARA 2015 reauthorizes the TAA program for an additional six years and will allow coverage for workers in the service industry.  The new law will take effect September 28, 2015.  After the TAA team receives official guidance from US DOL, we will set up information webinars with further information.  Stay tuned!

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New TAA Specialist

Please join us as we welcome Olajide Williams to the TAA team!  Olajide joined us June 17, 2015.  Previously, Olajide provided job-seeker resources and classes to unemployed workers in multiple WorkForce Centers throughout Ramsey and Washington Counties.  He has already taken over those social security numbers ending in “4” and will take on those ending in “9” July 16, 2015.

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Return to Trade-Impacted Employer

There are three options for any TAA eligible worker who has applied for TAA training, and received a call-back request:

1.       The worker can remain in training and turn down the call-back opportunity if he or she is within 30 days of the training start date, or if he or she has already started TAA-approved training.

2.       If the worker chooses to accept the call-back, and has already begun training, he or she can finish the current training semester.  If the worker is separated from employment at the Trade-certified employer again, and wants to continue training, the worker can contact the TAA unit for a case review.

3.       If the worker is called back to “unsuitable employment” at the Trade-certified employer, he or she can continue training and accept the call-back position.  A TAA staff member MUST review the call-back situation to determine if the new opportunity meets the definition of “unsuitable” employment.

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Trade Readjustment Allowance (TRA)  and Graduation

Recently, a small number of workers who have completed long-term TAA training have continued to request TRA benefits.  For participants who have exhausted Basic TRA benefits, and are requesting Additional or Completion TRA, there is no bridge to employment.  Participants must cease requesting TRA benefits after training has ended, or they will be assessed overpayments on their Unemployment Insurance account.  For any person who does not agree with the overpayment determination, they have 20 calendar days from the date of the determination to file an appeal.  Please have participants follow the appeal directions on their determination(s).

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Benchmarks

Benchmarks for participants in TAA approved training include a Training Progress Report submitted at mid-term and final grades for each school term. If the participant fails two benchmarks in a row, he or she must submit a training modification plan that has been signed by the Dislocated Worker Counselor to the TAA Specialist.  After the modified training plan is approved by the TAA Specialist, the benchmark count starts over.”

 

We strive for the information in this newsletter to be relevant and useful, and we encourage you to provide feedback and suggestions for future TAA Topics or TAA Success Stories. To contact the TAA team regarding this newsletter, please e-mail: cynthia.boyle@state.mn.us and type “TAA Newsletter” in the subject line.