Computer glitch delay your unemployment check? How to tell the kiddies Santa won't be coming

The latest computer glitch comes from the California Employment Development Department. Due to the system's inability to record extended unemployment benefits, over 100,000 residents have not received their checks and may not until after December 25.

Recognizing back in 2002 that the 30-year old computer systems were in need of a serious upgrade, the federal government gave the state of California $60 million to address the current and anticipated issues. While some progress has been made, it's clear that the project is not complete.

Of course, this isn't what unemployed residents want to hear when their bills are mounting and the holiday season is upon us.

So how do you explain to little Suzy or Bobby that Christmas may be delayed? Articulating the complexity behind the computer glitch may be a bit heady for some parents so here are five excuses to tide you over until the unemployment checks clear.

1. Santa decided that this year that he would split up his trip into two nights and you're on the list for the second delivery that is expected after the 25th, or somewhere thereabouts.

2. There was a layoff in Santa's workshop and with less elves working, they weren't able to make as many toys as they used to.

3. The reindeer caught the H1N1 virus and won't be able to fly until later this month when they're feeling better.

4. Santa's credit card was frozen in the North Pole and it won't thaw until the end of the month.

5. Your email to Santa got stuck in a spam filter.


While the California residents patiently wait to see if the glitch does in fact delay their checks for another few weeks, the issue calls into question the flexibility of the IT infrastructure. You have to wonder how much governance has been applied to the system design and why such a slight change such as the extension of benefits could trip up so many.