The seriousness of the economic recession in Colorado is vividly displayed in the escalating number of people out of work and in need of assistance.
Unfortunately, an outdated computer system at the state Department of Labor and Employment and a deluge of applicants have slowed down the process of connecting people with unemployment benefits.
We were glad to see Gov. Bill Ritter turn the screws on his own staff in an effort to expedite payments to some 10,500 people who may qualify for extended benefits.
We hope the department’s executive director, Don Mares, can deliver.
Mares on Wednesday sent letters to the 10,500 people informing them they are potentially eligible for extended benefits.
He said his office is dealing with a balky, 25-year-old computer system and his staff is working as fast as it can to set up the program to deliver the stimulus-funded benefits.
Ritter signed a bill in June that would extend unemployment benefits to Coloradans who can’t find a job. The intent of the bill was to ensure that beginning July 1, Coloradans who already had exhausted 59 weeks of benefits would be eligible for an additional 13 weeks, and perhaps even seven weeks more if the state’s unemployment rate reaches 8 percent for three months.
The law released $127 million in federal stimulus funds to shore up Colorado’s unemployment benefits trust fund.
Yet here we are at the end of July and thousands of people who could be getting an additional lifeline are still waiting. What a shame.
Colorado, with an unemployment rate of 7.5 percent, is faring better than much of the nation, but the paucity of jobs still means about 100,000 people in the state are collecting benefits.
These are people who have gone through any savings they might have and are looking for basic subsistence money to hang on until businesses begin hiring again.
Ritter last week ordered Mares to make things happen expeditiously. Mares told The Post on Tuesday he expects people to get extension payments in the beginning of August, a significant improvement over prior estimates.
We hope it’s true.
Mares and others at the state Labor and Employment Department need to deliver assistance as quickly as possible. Times are tough, the money already has been approved, and the people in need should get that relief sooner rather than later.
