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Some Glitches As NM Launches Unemployment System

The state agency that administers New Mexico's unemployment insurance benefits program says it successfully launched a new system for claims and tax reports but it acknowledges there were some teething problems.

The Department of Workforce Solutions says its new system paid out $4 million in jobless claims and certified more than 17,000 people for benefits while helping over 22,000 people open online accounts and enable nearly 1,000 employers electronically fire wage reports.

The Albuquerque Journal reports that many people had to make repeated calls. That was due to unfamiliarity with the new system, a last-minute extension of federal benefits and a banking error that delayed payments.

State officials say the new system improves payments' timeliness and accuracy, provides more services and helps the state prevent and recover improper payments.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.