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Unemployed workers can begin filing claims online again after a 24-hour computer outage at the N.C. Employment Security Commission delayed claims for thousands.

Many workers trying to file claims for unemployment benefits were unable to do so Sunday or Monday because of two separate computer problems at the state agency.

An ESC spokesman said computers were running again late Monday but slower than usual.

“They’re up and running,” said Andy James, a commission spokesman. “Not as good as we’d like them to, but they’re running.”

He said the computers will work more quickly as the week progresses.

Both an Internet-based application operated by the commission and a phone-based system run by a separate state agency had difficulties processing claims, James said.

Sunday and Monday are the most active days for people filing claims.

Each week, an unemployed worker must file a report with the commission to receive benefits. On Monday, beneficiaries said they encountered Internet error messages and busy signals when trying to file weekly claims.

Those who experienced delays Sunday further clogged a system slowed by the continuing problems Monday.

By about 4 p.m. Monday, staffers at the ESC office on South Elm-Eugene Street in Greensboro had keyed in information for about 150 people who had been unable to file claims over the phone or by Internet.

“It has been very inconvenient for our customers and we regret this has happened,” said Ben Barnwell Jr., manager of the Greensboro office.

The ESC said that statewide only about 30 percent of the benefits usually issued Sunday were paid. Barnwell said he anticipated an equal level of payouts in Guilford County.

ESC officials described the problem as intermittent, meaning that some people were able to get through and file.

More than 250,000 people receive compensation weekly, James said, part of the more than 500,000 people unemployed statewide.

Typically, an unemployed worker will receive a payment within 24 to 48 hours of filing his weekly report. James said many people file early in the week so they have enough money to pay bills, making the outage particularly difficult.

“I know people are stressed about this,” he said. “We can fix the system, but we can’t take back the stress and do apologize for that.”

Larry Parker, another ESC spokesman, said that despite the outages, the system has handled 77,000 telephone claims and a few claims over the Internet.

The ESC does not believe that outside hackers are responsible, Parker said.

In January, the state ESC experienced a computer system crash caused by increased volume. An extra server was added.

Staff Writers Richard M. Barron and Donald W. Patterson contributed to this story.

Contact Mark Binker at (919) 832-5549 or mark.binker@news-record.com.