ADVISORY:	UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROGRAM LETTER No.05-03
TO:	ALL STATE WORKFORCE AGENCIES

FROM:	CHERYL ATKINSON  /s/ Administrator       Office of Workforce Security

SUBJECT:

Health Insurance Tax Credit for Eligible Trade Adjustment Assistance/Trade Readjustment Allowances (TAA/TRA) Recipients

1. Purpose.To request that state workforce agencies issue a notice to potentially eligible TAA recipients to advise them of the health insurance tax credit and the related requirements (a copy of the notice is attached).

2. Reference. The Trade Act of 1974, as amended (P.L. 93-618, as amended); the Trade Adjustment Assistance Reform Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-210); 20 CFR 617; 29 CFR 90; General Administration Letter 7-94 with Changes 1, 2, and 3; Unemployment Insurance Program Letter No. 02-03 dated October 10, 2002; and Training and Employment Guidance Letters Nos. 10-02 and 11-02 dated October 10, 2002.

3. Background. The Trade Adjustment Assistance Reform Act of 2002 (the Act) authorized a federal income tax credit for health insurance premiums paid by eligible TAA recipients (as well as certain other groups). The health insurance tax credit will be available for qualified health insurance payments made by eligible individuals beginning December 2002, and individuals can claim the credit for December on their 1040 tax returns filed for CY 2002. State agencies were asked to provide a list of potentially eligible TAA recipients to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by November 22, 2002. The IRS will be issuing information packets about the health insurance tax credit along with a form and instructions for claiming the credit on 2002 returns. However, individuals may not receive the information until January 2003. In addition, states will be required to issue an IRS form (Form 8887) for tax year 2002 to individuals who received TRA or would have been eligible to receive TRA had their UI been exhausted during December 2002.

RESCISSIONS	EXPIRATION DATE
None	November 22, 2003

4. Action Required.This advisory requests the state workforce agencies to issue the attached notice to "eligible TAA Recipients" so that they have as much information as soon as possible about the tax credit.

In mailing out these notices, states should use the listings developed for IRS to identify individuals currently receiving TRA benefits and likely to continue receiving TRA during December 2002 and individuals receiving UI who are covered under TAA or NAFTA-TAA certifications.

5. Administrative Costs. Funding from National Emergency Grants (NEG) will be available to cover administrative costs for activities described in this advisory and other activities related to this health insurance tax credit. States will need to submit requests for funding according to special application procedures for NEG funds, as outlined in the Training and Employment Guidance Letter No. 10-02, which is dated October 10, 2002. States may request funding for pre-award costs for activities described above that were undertaken subsequent to the passage of the Act.

6. Inquiries. Please direct all inquiries to the appropriate Regional Office.

7. Attachments.

Letter Notifying Certain TAA-Certified Individuals of Potential Eligibility for the Health Insurance Tax Credit .