| IN THIS ISSUE:
DIRECTOR’S CORNER
PRE-APPROVAL PROCESS
FOR CLIENT PURCHASES
REIMBURSEMENT PROCESS
AFTER PRE-APPROVAL
TAA BENCHMARKS
SUMMER CREDITS
RTAA/ATAA PROCESS
DIRECTOR'S CORNER
Due to the
reorganization of the entire Workforce Development Division, we have had to
make some adjustments within our unit. While Deb Schlekewy and Amy
Carlson will remain key senior TAA staff, their case management duties have
moved to backup and training functions. This will give them the time they need
to take on more program and performance-specific roles, which in turn helps
balance the move of several key unit staff such as Annie Welch and Jenny
Bendewald to bigger and better things across the agency! Deb is still TAA
program lead, and Amy is still a senior TAA specialist that colleagues and
partners can contact with questions – especially data questions – regarding
TAA.
I am pleased
to announce the recent hire of Sarah Saito, who comes to us with
Dislocated Worker and TAA program experience from the state of Wisconsin; and
the imminent hire of Nayade Cardenas, who will be a transfer from the
Unemployment Insurance division, to round out our TAA case management team. The
new assignments are in this newsletter; we tried as always to minimize changes
in the numbers so that you can continue your own excellent work as Dislocated
Worker counselors without too much disruption.
Regarding
federal legislation – we at DEED are hoping that the success Congress had in
passing the Workforce Investment and Opportunities Act may be a harbinger of
reauthorization for TAA. However, we have no specific updates on when Congress
may take up Trade Act legislation again. We remain hopeful and will keep you
informed.
Pre-Approval Process For Client Purchases
- Prior to purchase, the client must send documentation from
the school to TAA of all required expenses.
- Along with that documentation, TAA requires a personal
statement of need from the client detailing that the required purchase is
necessary because the items are not already owned.
- If a required expense is over $700.00, two estimates from
separate vendors must be provided to TAA by the client.
- TAA will review the information and notify the client and
counselor if TAA can cover the costs.
Reimbursement Process After Pre-Approval
Required documentation to TAA before a reimbursement is
generated.
1.
All receipts submitted to TAA must be itemized and accompanied
by the following documentation:
-
If the client pays in cash, the receipt must show “paid in
cash.”
-
If the client pays with a debit or credit card, and the
itemized receipt lists the name of the client along with the last 4 digits of
their debit/credit card, the receipt alone is sufficient. If the receipt does
not have the client’s name but does list the last 4 digits of a debit/credit
card, then the receipt must be accompanied by a copy of the debit/credit card with
all but the last 4 digits blocked out to show card ownership or, a debit/credit card statement
showing payment cleared. The statement must have the account holder’s name
listed.
-
For purchases made by someone other than the client using a
debit or credit card on the client’s behalf, the above again applies.
2)
Whoever paid the required expense will need to register as a
vendor with the state of Minnesota and provide TAA with the assigned Vendor ID.
TAA will process the reimbursement directly to the purchaser. TAA will provide
instructions to register as a vendor.
(TAA cannot
reimburse for alcoholic beverages, hotel incidentals, or other miscellaneous
charges.)
TAA Benchmarks - Grades and Training Progress Reports
Starting
with fall 2014 semester, TAA will track training benchmarks for students in
full time, long- term training who are receiving TRA. TRA requires those students to send their
grades as well as a progress report signed by their school advisor to both
their Dislocated Worker Counselor and TAA Specialist. Progress reports are due
midterm of each semester and grades at the end of each semester. (TAA attaches
progress report forms to all TAA Training Approval emails.) http://mn.gov/deed/programs-services/dislocated-worker/counselors/forms/index.jsp
Summer Credits
This past spring,
TAA specialists fielded a large number of calls and emails from the field regarding
summer credits for full-time students. TAA worked with the MNSCU System
Director’s office, which then sent a letter to TAA in June detailing what
constitutes full-time status for those students receiving TRA benefits (see the attached letter.) If you have any questions regarding future summer
semesters, please call your assigned TAA Specialist.
Process to Apply For RTAA/ATAA Benefits
Steps customers and
counselors must take in order to receive Reemployment Trade Adjustment
Assistance (RTAA) and Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance (ATAA) benefits.
1.
Counselors should direct their customers to complete the RTAA
application.
a.
Finding the application:
i.
Go to http://mn.gov/deed/programs-services/dislocated-worker/counselors/forms/index.jsp
ii.
Select RTAA Application by clicking on the PDF link to
the right of the application title.
b.
Complete the all sections of the application:
i.
RTAA and ATAA benefits cannot begin prior to the Dislocated Worker
enrollment regardless of when the client began eligible employment. Because of
this, the TAA unit asks that all counselors
write the Dislocated Worker (DW) program enrollment date in the section
provided on the application. (If there are multiple funding stream transfers, TAA
asks that the DW Counselor use the first funding stream’s enrollment date on
the application.)
ii.
Both client and counselor need to sign and date the application.
c.
Documents to attach to the application:
i.
the customer’s last paystub from the customer’s certified employer.
ii.
the customer’s first FULL TIME paystub from their eligible employer.
iii.
a photo copy of the customer’s driver’s license.
d.
Submit the application:
i.
Send the application and supporting documentation to the state by
email, fax, or US Postal Service.
ii.
Address the application to the specific TAA Specialist handling the
customer’s case. If the specific specialist is unknown, please submit the
application to DEED.TAA@state.mn.us and copy in the TRA unit
at DEED.TRA@state.mn.us.
2.
What happens next?
- The assigned TAA Specialist will email both the counselor and customer
confirmation of application receipt.
-
After the TRA unit approves the application, TRA will mail a packet of
forms to the customer with instructions on how to complete the forms and where
to submit them in order to receive the RTAA/ATAA benefit on a monthly basis.
- TAA receives a spreadsheet from TRA weekly with RTAA/ATAA
determinations.
i.
Once TAA confirms that the application is approved by TRA, TAA will
send an email notification to both the counselor and customer.
ii.
TAA will then open the RTAA/ATAA activity in Workforce One. The
activity start date will be the first date the customer is eligible to receive
the benefit. The end date is an estimated date of exhaustion.
WATCH FOR NEW TAA
APPLICATIONS
http://mn.gov/deed/programs-services/dislocated-worker/counselors/forms/index.jsp
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.
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