Federal Grants for Displaced Workers
If you were recently laid off or terminated, you qualify for benefits as a displaced worker. States administer benefit programs, including training programs or funds for training at local colleges and universities. You may qualify for child care assistance, free counseling, transportation assistance or assistance with your utilities or free weatherization. You may be entitled to free legal services.
Unemployment Benefits
Unemployment insurance provides temporary funds paid to displaced workers who find themselves unemployed through no fault of their own. The federal government provides 19 weeks additional unemployment funds when your state unemployment benefits are exhausted. Though the name varies by state, each state provides a career center or workforce assistance center with lists of job openings in the area and information about training programs that might advance your position or prepare you for a new career.
Federal Pell Grant
The Federal Pell Grant Program provides tuition assistance to low-income undergraduate and graduate students based on a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which all applicants must complete online and submit to the U.S. Department of Education. Pell Grants may be used to get a bachelor's or master's degree, become certified as a teacher, obtain a professional license or learn a new trade. Pell Grant funds are paid to the student's school for tuition. Unused Pell Grant funds are dispersed to the student each semester or quarter.
Workforce Incentive Grants
The U. S. Department of Labor, Employment Training Administration (ETA) funds state programs for training low-income displaced workers. The workforce incentive grant (WIA) helps displaced workers return to work in their field or in a new trade or profession. The workforce incentive grant funds are administered by the states. In each state, workforce incentive grants include Youth Opportunity Grants, Welfare-to-Work Grants and the adult Work Incentives Grant program. The ETA funds 32 federal grants to train and certify employees, to help the employees gain skills to advance or remain competitive with the latest technology in high growth industries. ETA grants help aliens, migrant farm workers and immigrants find work. The ETA workforce incentive grant helps prisoners reenter the workforce. The ETA has grants specifically for senior citizens and youth.
COBRA Benefits
The U. S. Department of Labor Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) allows displaced workers the right to continue group health benefits provided by their employer for 9 months following termination from a job or a drastic reduction in hours on a job. COBRA benefits may cost the worker up to 102 percent of the cost of the benefits for himself and his family. Displaced workers have 60 days to decide whether they want COBRA benefits before they have to pay the premium for the medical benefits.
Tags: Pell Grant, workforce incentive, displaced workers, incentive grant, workforce incentive grant, Department Labor, each state
