AUGUSTA – Because of a computer problem, unemployment compensation benefit checks that were to be mailed out this week have been delayed, according to the Maine Department of Labor.

The problems occurred while the department was in the process of upgrading a new operating system.

The staff is “working around the clock to restore our systems,” said Laura Boyett, director of the Bureau of Unemployment Insurance. “We are still accepting new unemployment claims over the phone.”

While awaiting a fix, the department will write and mail out benefit checks based on dollar amounts from claims processed last week.

“We know people count on these benefits and that any delay can create problems,” said Boyett. “Therefore, we felt it made sense to send out benefit checks based on the prior week’s payment even if some adjustments need to be made after the system is up and running again.”Individuals who normally would have received their checks Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday of this week should have them delivered by the end of the week, she said.