State officials say they've fixed a computer problem that delayed benefits to 86,000 Nevadans.

There's still no definitive word on when money will be deposited in their individual debit card accounts, but for some this was just the latest in a series of setbacks that have brought them nearly to the brink.

Things started going south for Marnie and Tony Halbritter shortly after they married a year and a half ago. Knee injuries took Tony out of the work force for the time being, Marnie was laid off. Since then its been a frustrating endless search for jobs.

"I look every single day," says Marnie. She has experience managing offices, handling medical billing, working for government housing agencies. For every job opening there seem to be hundreds of applicants. After a year of looking, she says she's had three genuine extended interviews.

At this point they've lost just about everything, they've sold their furniture, lost two vehicles and they are living with her mother in a modest mobile home in Indian Hills, just south of Carson City.

Her mother was helping others when they needed new lodgings. "We came within two weeks of living in a tent," she says. "We slept on her couch until there was room at the inn."

They weren't really making it, but surviving on $15-hundred dollars a month between them.

Then things got worse. Their unemployment benefits were running out. They watched helplessly as Congress considered an extension, but the vote in the Senate stalled as members debated its impact on the deficit and the suggestion that long term recipients might be getting too comfortable.

Marnie Halbritter bristles at that arguement., "Anybody that would like to tell me that I'm spoiled living off unemployment, I'd like to see them do it. I was used to making $14 dollars an hour. Now I'm trying for jobs paying $8. Pay has gone down, but rent stayed the same. You can't live on unemployment benefits."

The extension passed after the summer recess, but that delay hurt. She went six weeks without benefits, their only income the $300 a month Tony receives in disability payments.

"That recess kicked us right over," she says.

There were more delays at the state level, then a communication problem: no guidance, Marnie says, on how to apply for the extension. All seemed to be finally worked out yesterday. Then, she read the news about the computer problem.

"I thought 'Now what? I called and after more than an hour wait I talked with someone and they said it was because of an antiquated computer system,"

In any case the bills are piling up. Among them a bill for a trip to the emergency room for what turned out to be a bleeding ulcer. Marnie has a prescription, but can't afford it.

Late Wednesday, officials say the computer problem was solved and the money was in the federal banking system, but there was still no word on when it might make it into individual accounts. A spokesperson says they may know more by mid-morning Thursday.

In the meantime they're asking claimants not to phone their call center as the workers on the phones won't have any further information. Instead they suggest checking periodically with the department's website, www.nvdetr.org.

Again, The Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation did apologize for the problem and asked for patience.

That's another thing the Halbritters are running out of.

"I hate living off unemployment benefit," Marnie says. "I want to fine a job. I'll go anywhere. I can't rely on anyone else, especially a government agency to decide if I can eat or pay a bill this week."