Unemployment Compensation Legislation of 1941

W I T H T H E E N A C T M E N T in October of amendments to the Massachusetts law, the main State legislative ac t iv i ty of 1941 affecting unemployment compensation came to an end. D u r i n g the year the legislatures of 4 3 States and the Territories of Alaska and Hawai i , meeting in regular sessions, revised their unemployment compensation laws in some respect, and the United States Congress passed two amendments to the unemployment compensation law of the Dis t r i c t of Columbia. On the whole, the benefit provisions in State laws were made more nearly adequate. Except for general reductions i n the wait ing period, the changes in the benefit formulas were varied; some States raised the m i n i m u m benefit rate, others the maximum, and st i l l others provided longer durat ion. I n the 34 States which amended their benefit provisions during the year, the changes w i l l result, i t is estimated, i n an average increase i n benefit payments of approximately 2 0 percent. I n addit ion, provision was made in most States to preserve the benefit rights of individuals in m i l i t a r y service. On the other hand, coverage was extended i n very few States and restricted in several, and new or more stringent disqualifications w i l l deny benefits to many workers.