SALEM, Ore. – Unemployed Oregon workers trying to apply and receive unemployment benefits are bumping up against an electronic bottleneck.

It’s the latest obstacle for thousands of workers laid off in a sinking economy that has seen Oregon’s unemployment rate rise to above 7 percent.

Monika York, who has been unemployed for a month and a half, hasn’t been able to collect anything and has kept a log of her frustrations with Oregon’s automated benefits system that includes a state-run Web site and an automated phone system.

It is York’s first time trying to claim unemployment benefits. She has kept a handwritten log of her contacts and frustrations dealing with the automated benefits systems.

"It’s almost like the unemployment benefits system is setting you up for failure,” York told KATU News.

A visit to a local employment assistance office had staffers and unemployed workers there faring no better. Long waits on the phone or busy messages greeted most calls.

The electronic system is supposed to speed up claims and improve accuracy, a claim repeated by Tom Fuller of the Oregon Employment Department.

Fuller called York’s frustrating experience with the system “uncommon.”

"Even though some individuals do have problems,” Fuller said, “today we can file claims faster. We can get people their benefits faster. We're more accurate."

However, when Fuller dialed the number that unemployed workers call to sign up for benefits, he also received a message saying the service was unavailable due to “high call volume.”

Fuller admitted that the experience is frustrating for those trying to use the system but recommended workers keep redialing until they got through.

KATU News took his advice and kept calling the number. After an hour of calling, the automated phone system answered.

Other unemployed workers KATU News spoke with said the automated system would sometimes kick them off after 20 to 25 minutes.

There is no option to talk to a person using the automated system.

One man who was having no luck getting through said it was time to bring back a more personal system.

"I think they need to go back to the old system where you can talk to someone personally,” he said as he tried again to get through on the phone.