RTAA Updates to the TRADE PROGRAM in Massachusetts

1. RTAA Updates to the TRADE PROGRAMin Massachusetts Deval L. Patrick, Governor Timothy P. Murray, Lieutenant Governor Joanne F. Goldrtein, Secretary Rosemary Chandler, Director Division of Career Services

2. Reemployment Trade Adjustment Assistance (RTAA) • The 2009 Act established RTAA as a wage supplement option available to older workers under the TAA program. RTAA replaces ATAA for the new 2009 Act. RTAA builds on the basic structure of ATAA, with some important differences.

3. ATAA / RTAA

4. ATAA / RTAA (continued)

5. RTAA, Training and TRA • A worker can go off and on RTAA if he/she quits or gets laid off from the job which initiated the RTAA application. (i.e. Multiple applications) • A worker can attend training and then go on RTAA (but RTAA allowances will be pro-rated). • A worker can receive RTAA, get laid off, and then attend training. However, s/he will only receive TRA if s/he meets the deadlines. • Once a worker has received TRA, then goes onto RTAA, s/he cannot go back to TRA.

6. RTAA Allowances (no TRA received) • If a worker has not received TRA: • 50% of the difference between reemployment wages and wages earned at separation up to a maximum of $12,000 • Wages earned at separation MUST include all wages being earned during the last week of employment at the TAA certified company. • New wages of course MUST encompass all full time and or part time employment at time of application. This may change over time (i.e. loses or quits one job). • RTAA may be collected during the eligibility period • Two years from the date worker exhausts UI (and any EUC) or two years from the date of reemployment, whichever is earlier

7. RTAA Allowances (received TRA) • If a worker has received TRA: • A percentage of the difference between reemployment wages and wages earned at separation up to $12,000 • Based on number of hours worked in new employment as compared to previous employment (remember this is all employment that qualifies as described on last slide) • RTAA must be collected during the eligibility period • Two years from the date of reemployment, minus the number of weeks the worker received TRA

8. The initial RTAA/ATAA screen which requires some important information such as the participants former salary and the verification method of figuring this out. When you are first submitting an application, there will be nothing below the “Applications” section, and you will need to click “Add” in order to start the process. Once submitted, you will see the application that was submitted.

9. The Detailed Info tab is where you will see the past employment (carried over from the Work Experience tab). You then need to add the New Employment (which must be already entered onto the Services-Employment tab). Click ADD to bring all new employment over. This screen will annualize Former and New salaries. If employment through a temporary agency, please indicate the “real” employer in the description box on the new employment entry.

10. The Submission and Determination screen is where the actual submission of the initial R/ATAA application is done. Once submitted, the TAA unit must wait for an overnight batch program to run before making a determination on the case. This batch is done to see if the participant has received any weeks of TRA or “grab” their UI exhaust date as this will affect RTAA eligibility. Once a match has been made, and a determination has been issued by TAA, the Ongoing Eligibility section will begin to calculate and keep track of the various items as displayed on the screen. For TAA Admin use only Print this Application, obtain signatures and keep in file after submittal

11. Once the application is approved, you can begin to submit monthly certifications for the participants. To add a month, click the “Add” button and then add the weeks for that month on the following screen. After you have data entered the weekly info, you must print out the MONTHLY REQUEST FORM. Clients must sign and date the form each month verifying the submitted data. The signed forms must be kept on file. You can also print blank forms by setting the monthly to WIP status and have the client send them completed with copies of salary verification methods each month.

12. This screen is where each week of the month is entered. ALL weeks within the month need to be accounted for. To add a week, click on the “Add” button. Answer the questions on the following screen (next slide). Once weeks have a determination made, this screen will also show how much the participant is getting each week, as well as, the remaining benefits available. Please remember you are indicating you have obtained verification for what has been submitted. Make sure your source documents match the data entry completed.

13. The Weekly Details screen is where the questions need to be answered appropriately for each individual week. Any changes in hours and/or wages need to be noted. Additionally, if these changes are permanent, a follow-up service must be added (you will be asked to update the employment tab) so that all future weekly amounts are adjusted correctly. You should indicate that the change is permanent and all subsequent weeks will calculate using the new data. If someone moves w/in company, then OK to submit raise data. However, if new employment is obtained you must have TAA close the application and a NEW RTAA application must be submitted.