States' Reductions of Unemployment Benefits

As part of the nation's unemployment insurance (UI) system, overseen by DOL, states provide benefits to eligible unemployed workers, with additional weeks of benefits sometimes provided by the federal government in times of economic stress. Since the 1960s, states have had maximum UI benefit durations of 26 weeks or longer. However, since 2011, nine states have reduced their maximum benefit durations. This book examines the circumstances in which states reduced the maximum duration of UI benefits; the implications of these reductions for individuals; the effects on federal UI costs; and their broader economic effects. Furthermore, the book analyzes recent changes to state Unemployment Compensation (UC) programs.