The Gary American

Rise in Employment
Compensation Claims
Due to Heavy Cutbacks

INDIANAPOLIS. Ind. - Releasing of employees in various Indiana war plants due to contract cancellations and cutbacks is reflected in the upswing of unemployment compensation claimants. Noble R. Shaw, director of the Unemployment Security Division, reported last week. In the week ending June 16, 1,824 initial applications were received in the Employment Security office--564 more than during the previous week.

"The 1.824 initial claims received last week," said Mr. Shaw, "appear very large in comparison with the 191 received during the same week in 1944. However, most of this unemployment appears to be temporary and these laid-off workers will be jobless and drawing benefits only during the time necessary for transition from one job to another.

"Under compulsion of war conditions the armed services continually revise material and ordnance demands and Indiana war plants are thus subjected to fluctuations in employment," he continued.

Mr. Shaw said that, to qualify for employment benefits, a claimant must apply in person for new work at the nearest United States Employment Service office, file a benefit claim and serve a one-week waiting period for which no compensation is paid.

Besides complying with all requirements for eligibility a claimant must remain able, available and willing to work. He must register at the claims office each week while receiving benefits and must renew his work application weekly.

Mr. Shaw explained that because of the one week waiting period and the time necessary to set up records for a claim a claimant should not expect to receive his first benefit check for at least two weeks after he has filed his initial claim. However, he suggested two ways Indiana employees could aid in speeding up the issuing of benefit checks.

"Each worker," he advised, "should make certain his employer has his correct social security number. If a worker is laid off for more than a week he should insist that his employer give him a 'Report Unemployment' at the time he leaves work. This must be presented to the Employment Security office when he makes his initial claim because it contains information necessary in determining benefit rights."