In 1974, a substantial amendment was made to the Act, with payments raised to twenty dollars per month, with some provincial differences with respect to age and number of children in the family.
The state received pressure to provide assistance and in 1940 amended legislation to permit statewide unemployment insurance, the beginning of social supports offered throughout the country.
[3] The Act was informed by the Marsh Report in 1943, which outlined a reconstruction plan for the country after World War II and was written to address the poverty in Canada.
[5] The proposed benefits of the program were predicted to help the declining post-war economy, and in general, was aimed to aid families in Canada during that time.
[3] Common critiques of the Act at the time included concerns that taxpayer money was being wasted due to the payments being sent to everyone who qualified indiscriminately, without determining if they needed financial help at all.