2. DET-APPS
3. TAA Policy Manual
4. Chapter 7) TAA Benefits Overview
5. 7.6 Training Services & Supplemental Assistance
6. 7.6.5 Supplemental Assistance



TAA Policy Manual
Ch. 7) Program Benefits

7.6 Training Services & Supplemental Assistance

Table of Contents 

7.6.5 Supplemental Assistance

Effective Date: June 14, 2023

Supplemental assistance consists of two types of payments: subsistence and transportation, that must be provided to participants with approved training programs to cover reasonable subsistence and transportation expenses while the worker attends training outside their commuting area.¹

This section includes the rules for subsistence and transportation as they relate to training. Other benefits also provide subsistence and transportation payments, see Out of Area Job Search and Out of Area Relocation for more information.

Payments

• Participants are not required to provide receipts for meals or mileage.²
• Participants must provide receipts for all purchased transportation expenses.³
• Participants must provide receipts for lodging, see details below.⁴
  • If the school provides lodging and direct bills for it, their invoice counts as the receipt.
• Career planners should make timely payments upon receiving receipts or other requests for payment from the participant. Career planners should encourage participants to submit receipts and payment requests weekly.⁵

Documentation

Documentation requirements are the same for subsistence and transportation payments.

DWD-DET requires the need for subsistence and transportation payments to be documented on the Training Benefits Application and Approval Form (TRA-16679-E).⁶

A Weekly Attendance Form (TRA-858) is required for any week in which supplemental assistance is being requested.

Subsistence and transportation needs may not all be known at the time the Training Benefits Application and Approval Form is completed. If additional subsistence and transportation needs are identified later in the training program, they must be added to the original Training Benefits Application and Approval Form and the change must be initialed and dated.

If subsistence and transportation needs identified after the initial training application cause the training plan to exceed the soft cap, approval is required from central office. An email describing the need for the additional subsistence should be sent to the central office mailbox (DETTAACentral@dwd.wisconsin.gov) for approval. If the request (or any portion of the request) is denied, participants have the right to appeal.

Subsistence

Subsistence payments cover meals, incidental expenses, and lodging.⁷

Requirements

• Subsistence payments must be made when a participant needs to stay outside of their commuting area for training that is part of their approved training plan.⁸
• A participant cannot receive TAA-funded subsistence payments if they are receiving or authorized to receive payments for the same costs from any other source.⁹
  • Career planners should maintain awareness of services and case notes entered by co-enrolled programs.
• A participant must not be given subsistence payments for any day they have an unexcused absence from their training program.¹⁰
  • Absences are defined by the training provider as excused or unexcused.
  • Career planners can assume absences are excused unless otherwise notified.
• A participant can only receive subsistence payments for the same day they receive commuting transportation payment (from TAA Program funds or from any other source):
  • At the beginning of the training that the worker is attending outside the worker's commuting area and
  • At the end of the training for travel back to the worker's commuting area.
    • Therefore, mileage can only be paid for the same day as lodging and meals on the first and last day of travel to training.¹¹
    • If someone is remaining out of area for a period of time and does not have class every day, subsistence is covered for both class and non-class days. For example: subsistence would be provided for weekends even though the participant does not attend class on those days.

Amounts

Subsistence payments are made according to GSA rates. GSA rates include rates specific for lodging, and meals; both are calculated based on destination and time of year. Participants are reimbursed for whichever is less:

• Their actual per diem expenses for subsistence, or
• No more than 50 percent of the prevailing per diem allowance authorized by the GSA.¹²

Meals:

• Meal reimbursements cannot exceed 50 percent of the GSA per diem rate listed for Meals & Incidentals (M&IE).¹³
  • Individual meals cannot be reimbursed for more than 50 percent of the rate for that particular meal.
  • Meal expenses included related tips and taxes.¹⁴
  • State of Wisconsin policy for timeframes for meal reimbursements apply.¹⁵

Lodging:

• Lodging cannot exceed 50 percent of the GSA per diem rate listed for lodging.
• When calculating lodging reimbursement, do not use the check-in date. Include all other days of the hotel stay.
  • Example: Check-in 1/11/23. Check-out 1/12/23. Reimbursement date is 1/12/23.
  • Example: Check-in 1/11/23 and check-out 1/13/23. Reimbursement dates are 1/12 & 1/13/23.
• If a participant claims meals, lodging, and travel on the same day, the combined total cannot exceed the per diem maximum for any given day. The maximum per diem is 50 percent the prevailing per diem allowance for lodging and meals combined, based on destination and time of year.

Incidentals:

• Incidental expenses include fees and tips given to porters, baggage carriers, hotel staff, and staff on ships.¹⁶

Transportation

Transportation payments are a type of supplemental assistance that must be provided to participants with approved training plans to cover reasonable transportation expenses while the worker attends training outside their commuting area.¹⁷

Requirements

• Transportation payments must be made when a participant needs to travel outside of their commuting area for training that is part of their approved training plan.¹⁸
• Transportation payments will be made for travel to training that is greater than 30 miles, roundtrip.¹⁹
• A participant cannot receive TAA-funded transportation payments if they are receiving or authorized to receive payments for the same costs from any other source.

Amounts

Transportation payments are made based on current cost per mile rates set by the Federal Travel Regulation, www.gsa.gov.²⁰

Whether traveling by car, bus, train, or plane, the participant will be reimbursed only the per mile amount. ²¹

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• ¹ 20 CFR § 618.640(a)
• ^2-4 2-4 20 CFR § 618.640(g); per email from DOL dated 02/28/2023:In drafting Subpart F, specifically 618.640(g) the Department erroneously included “must provide” instead of the same language from Subpart D. Thankfully, Subpart H provides a definitive statement on travel under the TAA Program at 618.872. The combination of 20 CFR 618.872(a) and (c) means that receipts are required for all lodging and transportation and any individual transaction over $75.00. Receipts for meals are not required since the M&IE rates are used instead. Per Diem Rates | GSA
• ⁵ 20 CFR § 618.640(c)(4)
• ⁶ 20 CFR § 618.640(a)
• ⁷ 20 CFR § 618.640(c)(1)
• ⁸ 20 CFR § 618.640(c)(1)
• ⁹ 20 CFR § 618.640(c)(2)(i)
• ¹⁰ 20 CFR § 618.640(c)(2)(iii)
• ¹¹ 20 CFR § 618.640(e)
• ¹² 20 CFR § 618.640(c)(1) and (3)
• ¹³ 20 CFR § 618.640(c)(1) and (3)
• ¹⁴ 20 CFR 618.872(c), 41 CFR 300-3.1
• ¹⁵ 20 CFR 618.872(c), WI 2021-2023 Compensation Plan, Section F
• ¹⁶ 20 CFR 618.872(c), 41 CFR 300-3.1
• ¹⁷ 20 CFR § 618.640(c)(1)
• ¹⁸ 20 CFR § 618.640(c)(1)
• ¹⁹ 20 CFR § 618.872(b)
• ²⁰ 20 CFR § 618.872(c)
• ²¹ 20 CFR § 618.640(d)(3)