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19 USC § 2298 - Relocation allowances

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t19/s2298"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "19 USC § 2298 - Relocation allowances"
title_number: 19
title_name: "CUSTOMS DUTIES"
section_number: "2298"
section_name: "Relocation allowances"
chapter_number: 12
chapter_name: "TRADE ACT OF 1974"
subchapter_number: "II"
subchapter_name: "RELIEF FROM INJURY CAUSED BY IMPORT COMPETITION"
part_number: "2"
part_name: "Adjustment Assistance for Workers"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 93–618, title II, § 238, Jan. 3, 1975, 88 Stat. 2024; Pub. L. 97–35, title XXV, § 2508, Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 886; Pub. L. 98–369, div. B, title VI, § 2672(b), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 1172; Pub. L. 107–210, div. A, title I, § 122, Aug. 6, 2002, 116 Stat. 943; Pub. L. 108–429, title II, § 2004(a)(6), Dec. 3, 2004, 118 Stat. 2590; Pub. L. 111–5, div. B, title I, § 1833(b), Feb. 17, 2009, 123 Stat. 386; Pub. L. 112–40, title II, §§ 201(b), (c), 214(e), Oct. 21, 2011, 125 Stat. 403, 406; Pub. L. 114–27, title IV, § 402(b), (c), June 29, 2015, 129 Stat. 374.)"
---

# § 2298. Relocation allowances

**(a)** **Relocation allowance authorized**

**(1)** **In general** Any adversely affected worker covered by a certification issued under subpart A of this part may file an application for a relocation allowance with the Secretary, and the Secretary may grant the relocation allowance, subject to the terms and conditions of this section.

**(2)** **Conditions for granting allowance** A relocation allowance may be granted if all of the following terms and conditions are met:

**(A)** **Assist an adversely affected worker** The relocation allowance will assist an adversely affected worker in relocating within the United States.

**(B)** **Local employment not available** The Secretary determines that the worker cannot reasonably be expected to secure suitable employment in the commuting area in which the worker resides.

**(C)** **Total separation** The worker is totally separated from employment at the time relocation commences.

**(D)** **Suitable employment obtained** The worker—

**(i)** has obtained suitable employment affording a reasonable expectation of long-term duration in the area in which the worker wishes to relocate; or

**(ii)** has obtained a bona fide offer of such employment.

**(E)** **Application** The worker filed an application with the Secretary before—

**(i)** the later of—

**(I)** the 425th day after the date of the certification under subpart A of this part; or

**(II)** the 425th day after the date of the worker’s last total separation; or

**(ii)** the date that is the 182d day after the date on which the worker concluded training, unless the worker received a waiver under section 2291(c) of this title.

**(b)** **Amount of allowance** The relocation allowance granted to a worker under subsection (a) includes—

**(1)** 90 percent of the reasonable and necessary expenses (including, but not limited to, subsistence and transportation expenses at levels not exceeding those allowable under section 2296(b)(1) and (2) of this title specified in regulations prescribed by the Secretary) incurred in transporting the worker, the worker’s family, and household effects; and

**(2)** a lump sum equivalent to 3 times the worker’s average weekly wage, up to a maximum payment of $1,250.

**(c)** **Limitations** A relocation allowance may not be granted to a worker unless—

**(1)** the relocation occurs within 182 days after the filing of the application for relocation assistance; or

**(2)** the relocation occurs within 182 days after the conclusion of training, if the worker entered a training program approved by the Secretary under section 2296(b)(1) and (2) of this title.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 93–618, title II, § 238, Jan. 3, 1975, 88 Stat. 2024; Pub. L. 97–35, title XXV, § 2508, Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 886; Pub. L. 98–369, div. B, title VI, § 2672(b), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 1172; Pub. L. 107–210, div. A, title I, § 122, Aug. 6, 2002, 116 Stat. 943; Pub. L. 108–429, title II, § 2004(a)(6), Dec. 3, 2004, 118 Stat. 2590; Pub. L. 111–5, div. B, title I, § 1833(b), Feb. 17, 2009, 123 Stat. 386; Pub. L. 112–40, title II, §§ 201(b), (c), 214(e), Oct. 21, 2011, 125 Stat. 403, 406; Pub. L. 114–27, title IV, § 402(b), (c), June 29, 2015, 129 Stat. 374.)

### Termination of Assistance

For termination of assistance under this part after , see Termination Date note below.

## Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section reflects the , reversion to provisions in effect on . See Effective and Termination Dates of 2015 Revival note below.

, which provided for the , revival of this section as in effect on , was repealed by , , , and the provisions of this section, as in effect on , were temporarily revived, effective , until , by , §§ 402(b), (c), 406. See 2011 and 2015 Amendment notes, Effective and Termination Dates of 2011 Revival notes, and Effective and Termination Dates of 2015 Revival notes below.

, which provided for , termination of amendment by , was repealed by , , , and the provisions of this section, as amended by  and as in effect on , were temporarily revived, effective , until , by , §§ 201(b), (c), 233. See 2009 and 2011 Amendment notes, Effective and Termination Dates of 2009 Amendment notes, and Effective and Termination Dates of 2011 Revival notes below.

### Amendments

2015—, §§ 402(b), (c), 406, temporarily revived the provisions of this section, as in effect on . See Codification note above and 2011 Amendment and Effective and Termination Dates of 2015 Revival notes below.

2011—, §§ 201(b), (c), 233, temporarily revived the provisions of this section, as in effect on . See Codification note above and 2009 Amendment and Effective and Termination Dates of 2011 Revival notes below.

Subsec. (a)(1). , §§ 214(e)(1), 233, temporarily substituted “Each State may use funds made available to the State to carry out sections 2295 through 2298 of this title to allow an adversely affected worker” for “Any adversely affected worker” and “to file” for “may file”. See Codification note above and Effective and Termination Dates of 2011 Revival note below.

Subsec. (b). , §§ 214(e)(2)(A), 233, in introductory provisions, temporarily substituted “Any” for “The” and “shall include” for “includes”. See Codification note above and Effective and Termination Dates of 2011 Revival note below.

Subsec. (b)(1). , §§ 214(e)(2)(B), 233, temporarily substituted “not more than 90 percent of the” for “all”. See Codification note above and Effective and Termination Dates of 2011 Revival note below.

Subsec. (b)(2). , §§ 214(e)(2)(C), 233, temporarily substituted “$1,250” for “$1,500”. See Codification note above and Effective and Termination Dates of 2011 Revival note below.

2009—Subsec. (a)(2)(E)(ii). , §§ 1833(b)(1), 1893, temporarily struck out “, unless the worker received a waiver under ” before period. See Codification note above and Effective and Termination Dates of 2009 Amendment note below.

Subsec. (b)(1). , §§ 1833(b)(2)(A), 1893, temporarily substituted “all” for “90 percent of the”. See Codification note above and Effective and Termination Dates of 2009 Amendment note below.

Subsec. (b)(2). , §§ 1833(b)(2)(B), 1893, temporarily substituted “$1,500” for “$1,250”. See Codification note above and Effective and Termination Dates of 2009 Amendment note below.

2004—Subsec. (b)(1).  substituted “Secretary)” for “Secretary,”.

2002— amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section consisted of subsecs. (a) to (d) authorizing relocation allowances, specifying the conditions for granting them, and defining “relocation allowance”.

1984—Subsec. (d)(2).  substituted “$800” for “$600”.

1981—Subsec. (a). , inserted provisions relating to time for filing application and struck out provisions respecting total separation.

Subsec. (b)(3). , added par. (3).

Subsec. (c). , substituted provisions respecting 182-day requirements for provisions respecting requirements involving entitlements for the week in which the application is filed and relocation occurring within a reasonable period of time.

Subsec. (d)(1). , increased percentage from 80 to 90 percent and inserted provision respecting allowable levels of subsistence and travel expenses.

Subsec. (d)(2). , increased maximum payment from $500 to $600.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective and Termination Dates of 2015 Revival

For revival and applicability, beginning on , of the provisions of this section as in effect on , see section 402(b), (c) of , set out as a note preceding .

For reversion, beginning on , to the provisions of this section as in effect on , with certain exceptions and subject to , see , set out as a note preceding .

### Effective and Termination Dates of 2011 Revival

For revival and applicability, beginning on , of the provisions of this section as in effect on , see section 201(b), (c) of , set out as a note preceding .

, formerly set out as a note preceding , which provided for the reversion, beginning on , of the provisions of this section to those in effect on , subject to certain exceptions, was repealed by , , , effective . See Codification note above.

### Effective and Termination Dates of 2009 Amendment

Except as otherwise provided and subject to certain applicability provisions, amendment by  effective upon the expiration of the 90-day period beginning on , see , set out as a note under .

, formerly set out as a Termination Date of 2009 Amendment note preceding , which provided that, except as otherwise provided, amendment by  not applicable on or after , and that this section be applied and administered beginning , as if amendment by  had never been enacted, was repealed by , , , effective . See Codification note above.

### Effective Date of 2002 Amendment

Amendment by  applicable to petitions for certification filed under this part or part 3 of this subchapter on or after the date that is 90 days after , except as otherwise provided, see , set out as a note preceding .

### Effective Date of 1981 Amendment and Transition Provisions

Amendment by  effective for determinations made or filed after , with transition provisions applicable, see , set out as a note under .

### Termination Date

No trade adjustment assistance, vouchers, allowances, or other payments or benefits may be provided under this part after , except as otherwise provided, see , as modified by , set out as notes preceding .