When a manufacturing employer with a 183-year legacy announces cost-cutting closures, the workers left behind face an immediate and urgent question: what financial support and retraining programs may be available right now? If you were employed at a Stanley facility that is closing or has already closed, several federal and state programs — including Unemployment Insurance, Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), and WIOA Dislocated Worker funding — may help you bridge the gap and build toward your next job.

What Happens First: WARN Act and Rapid Response

Your Right to Advance Notice

Under the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, companies with 100 or more full-time employees must provide at least 60 calendar days' written notice before a plant closing or mass layoff affecting 50 or more workers. If Stanley or any employer failed to provide that notice, affected workers may be entitled to back pay and benefits for the violation period. Contact your state's Department of Labor or a workers' rights attorney to understand your options.

Free On-Site Help Through Rapid Response

State workforce agencies often deploy Rapid Response teams directly to closing facilities — sometimes before the last day of work. These teams connect workers with unemployment filing assistance, benefits counseling, resume help, and referrals to retraining programs. If Rapid Response hasn't reached your worksite yet, call your state's workforce agency or visit your nearest American Job Center (findable at careeronestop.org) and ask specifically about Rapid Response services for your employer.

Filing for Unemployment Insurance (UI)

Unemployment Insurance is administered by each state, so benefit amounts, duration, and eligibility rules vary. Generally, to qualify you must:

  • Have lost your job through no fault of your own (a plant closure qualifies)
  • Meet your state's minimum earnings or hours-worked threshold during the base period (typically the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters)
  • Be actively seeking new work each week you claim benefits

Benefit amounts vary by household size and income, but most states replace roughly 40–50% of your prior weekly wage up to a state-set cap. Most states provide up to 26 weeks of regular UI, and during periods of high unemployment, extended benefits may be available.

File as soon as possible. Most states have a one-week waiting period before benefits begin, and delays in filing mean delays in payment. Apply through your state's unemployment insurance website or at your local American Job Center.

Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA): Retraining Funded by the Federal Government

If Stanley's closures are connected to foreign competition, import pressures, or offshoring — which is common in the manufacturing sector — affected workers may be eligible for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), a federal program administered through the U.S. Department of Labor.

What TAA May Cover

  • Up to 130 weeks of retraining at an approved school or training provider, with tuition and fees covered
  • Trade Readjustment Allowances (TRA), which extend income support beyond regular UI while you complete an approved training program
  • Job Search Allowances to help cover costs of looking for work in another area
  • Relocation Allowances if you accept a job outside your commuting area
  • Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC) assistance to help pay for health insurance premiums

How to Apply for TAA

A TAA petition must be filed — either by a group of workers, a union, or a state workforce agency — with the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration. Your state's Rapid Response team or American Job Center can help initiate or check the status of a petition for your facility. Once a petition is certified, individual workers apply for benefits through their state workforce agency.

WIOA Dislocated Worker Program: Your Local Retraining Lifeline

Even if TAA doesn't apply to your situation, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Dislocated Worker program may help you access funded retraining. WIOA is delivered through a national network of American Job Centers and is specifically designed for workers who have lost jobs through no fault of their own.

What WIOA Dislocated Worker Funding May Cover

  • Tuition and fees at approved colleges, trade schools, and certification programs
  • Tools, uniforms, and required equipment for a new trade
  • Supportive services including transportation assistance and childcare
  • On-the-job training (OJT) subsidies that pay employers to hire and train you
  • Occupational skills training in high-demand fields like healthcare, advanced manufacturing, IT, and skilled trades

Eligibility Basics

To be considered a "dislocated worker" under WIOA, you generally must have been laid off or received a layoff notice, be unlikely to return to your previous industry or occupation, and meet your local program's enrollment criteria. Income thresholds are not the primary eligibility factor for Dislocated Worker services — the focus is on your job loss status.

How to Access WIOA Services

Visit your nearest American Job Center (careeronestop.org/localhelp) and ask for Dislocated Worker services. Bring documentation of your layoff (a termination letter, WARN notice, or UI determination letter works), your Social Security number, and proof of work history. There is no application fee.

Other Programs to Check While You're Between Jobs

A major job loss often triggers eligibility for other assistance programs that may help stabilize your household:

  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): Households with income at or below 130% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) may qualify. Apply through your state's SNAP agency.
  • Medicaid: Adults in expansion states with income up to 138% FPL may qualify for low- or no-cost health coverage. A job loss is a qualifying life event that opens a Special Enrollment Period for Marketplace plans as well.
  • Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): If you're struggling to pay heating or cooling bills, LIHEAP may help. Eligibility is generally set at or below 150% FPL, though states vary.
  • Emergency Rental Assistance: Many states and localities still have rental assistance programs for households facing housing instability due to income loss.

What to Do If You're Denied

Denials happen — and they're not always final. For UI, you have the right to appeal within a state-specific deadline (often 10–30 days from the denial notice). For TAA, if your facility's petition is denied, a new petition can be filed with additional documentation. For WIOA, talk to a case manager at your American Job Center about alternative funding streams or eligibility pathways.

Don't let a denial be the last word. Ask for the specific reason in writing, gather any missing documentation, and request a formal appeal or reconsideration.

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Program eligibility and availability vary by state. Not affiliated with any government agency.

Last reviewed: May 2026