Glitch blocks money for 23,000 jobless

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - A computer malfunction caused a delay in unemployment benefits to be process for about 23,000 jobless New Mexicans, according to the agency that processes the payments.

The state Department of Workforce Solutions reported 9,300 people statewide who get their benefits on a state-issued debit card did not get paid as expected Monday morning. About another 14,000 people who either get paper checks in the mail or are on the direct-deposit pilot program also did not get their benefit payments.

Those who certify with Workforce Solutions that they are still unemployed Sunday were the only ones affected.

Vicki Wilkerson was one of them.

"I do it on Sunday night, and Monday morning it's there," Wilkerson said.

But this Monday morning when she checked on her unemployment benefits she found her account empty.

"I didn't get paid," she said. "I have a job interview tomorrow, and I hope I have enough gas to get there and back."

Workforce Solutions spokesperson Carrie Moritomo did not get permission to do an on-camera interview, but over the phone she told KRQE News 13 people will get their benefits within 72 hours.

Moritomo said those who get paper checks or direct deposits should expect their benefits within 72 hours from Tuesday.

Moritomo said the agency realized the database malfunctioned Monday morning but couldn't explain what caused the glitch.

She said staff planned to watch the computers overnight to make sure it didn't happen again.

The computer glitch comes just weeks after New Mexicans complained about backlogs and delays in the department system used to file for benefits.

Moritomo said the agency usually issues benefits 24 to 48 hours after a person certifies that they are still unemployed even though federal guidelines actually give the agency five days to issue a payment.

So even though New Mexicans didn't get their money as expected, Moritomo said mostly everyone should be getting their money on-time.

"Twenty-three thousand of us did not get paid today, and that's just completely wrong," Wilkerson said. "There should be a backup plan."