Glitch Cuts Off Californians from Unemployment Checks

Affects 80,000 people and could take weeks to resolve

About 80,000 jobless Californians have been cut off from unemployment benefits because of a computer glitch that could take weeks to resolve.

The Employment Development Department upgraded its 30-year-old system over Labor Day weekend with the aim of streamlining benefits processing. But the new system malfunctioned, forcing state workers to approve payments manually. That has created a massive backlog snaring 15% of claims filed since Sept. 1.

State officials say they're working around the clock, but can't say when they'll catch up. The EDD has apologized on social media and is notifying affected Californians by mail.