Unemployed in New Mexico? Why you'll wait longer for assistance

              (Photo courtesy medillmoneymavens.com)

Up from 6.5% in May to 6.8% in June, the unemployment rate in New Mexico hasn't yet hit the national average of 9.5%. Knowing that they are slightly below the national average by almost 3% isn't a huge consolation for those individuals that are part of that sad statistic, especially when their unemployment benefits fail to appear on time.

Twice in one month, New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions has encountered a glitch in the payment system causing a panic for those waiting on those funds. When unemployed, and I can speak from experience, those funds are essential. Rent, utilities, insurance, medicine, childcare -- all the things we sometimes take for granted when we do have a stable job -- still need to be paid for. Bills don't cease to exist just because our income does.

The website for the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (NMDWS) has lots of information on it and is easy to navigate. It has a section for business owners to place ads seeking possible employees as well as a section for those seeking employment. It even has a link to upcoming job fairs and companies that have ongoing hiring. What it doesn't show is how it will permanently resolve this sticky situation of being late on the payment of benefits to those who are unemployed. Shall they simply go without their medication, not pay their rent, or not eat while waiting? Let's hope it doesn't come to that.

One way to possibly anticipate the type of interruption that unemployed New Mexicans have recently encountered is to search for press releases indicating upcoming system changes. For instance, NMDWS has a press release on their website announcing that on August 15th, just two days prior to the payment glitch, there was a system update scheduled to run which would temporarily close the system. There is no guarantee this will be accurate because there are likely many times a system update has run with no associated problems. However, it can help you to set your expectations accordingly.

Possibly embarrassed by payments going out late twice in almost as many weeks, NMDWS was initially reluctant to speak to local news station, KRQE Channel 13. Interestingly enough, NMDWS thought the interview would cause them to be viewed in an unfair light. Unfair, like the late payments that people need to live on while searching for employment?

By law, when these "glitches" happen, NMDWS has up to one week to get the payments made.