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I went through this exact same nightmare about 6 months ago! The SSN login loop is incredibly frustrating and their error messages are completely unhelpful. What worked for me was calling at exactly 7:00 AM (set multiple alarms!) and being very specific about the problem. I told them "I'm getting stuck in a loop where the system tells me to call TWC every time I enter my SSN, and I need someone to check for identity verification flags on my account." The first rep tried to help but couldn't access that part of the system. When I asked to be transferred to identity verification, they found that my account was flagged because I had entered my apartment number differently than what was in their records (I wrote "Apt 5B" instead of "#5B"). Such a tiny difference but their system treated it as a red flag! Once they updated it, I could log in immediately. The good news is that your claim will still process correctly even while you can't access the online portal - I was worried about that too but my payments came through on schedule. Definitely try the early morning call strategy and don't let them brush you off if the first person can't help. Ask specifically for identity verification department transfer.
This is such great advice! The apartment number formatting issue is something I never would have thought of. It's crazy how picky their system is about these tiny details. I'm definitely going to call right at 7am and use that exact wording you suggested - asking specifically about identity verification flags seems to be the key based on everyone's experiences here. It's also really reassuring to know that claims still process even when you can't access the online portal. Thanks for sharing all those specific details about what worked for you!
I work as a customer service supervisor for a state agency (not TWC, but similar systems) and wanted to chime in with some insight about why this happens so frequently. These legacy government systems often have multiple databases that don't communicate well with each other, so something as simple as a space in your name, a hyphen in your address, or even capitalization differences can trigger security flags. The "call TWC" message is basically their system's way of saying "something doesn't match but we can't tell you what for security reasons." The identity verification department has access to see all the different data sources and can spot these mismatches that regular customer service can't see. Pro tip: when you do get through, ask them to read back exactly how your information appears in their system. Sometimes there are extra spaces, missing punctuation, or abbreviations that you wouldn't expect. Having that exact formatting for future reference can save you headaches later. Also, if you've ever had a name change (marriage, divorce, etc.), make sure all your documents reflect the same name consistently - that's another common trigger for these flags.
This is incredibly helpful insight! Thank you for explaining the technical reasons behind these issues. As someone who's been following this thread because I'm dealing with a similar problem, it really helps to understand that it's not just TWC being difficult - it's these old systems that can't handle minor formatting differences. Your tip about asking them to read back the exact formatting is brilliant. I never would have thought to do that, but it makes perfect sense. I'm definitely going to use that when I call tomorrow morning. It's also good to know that this is a widespread issue with government systems in general, not just TWC. Makes me feel less frustrated about the whole situation!
Smart approach. Document, report, and try to hold out for termination if possible. Don't forget to save copies of positive performance reviews or feedback from before the issues started - showing the contrast can be powerful evidence. Wishing you luck with this tough situation!
One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you should also keep records of any changes to your job duties or responsibilities that coincide with the hostile treatment. If they're suddenly giving you tasks outside your job description or removing responsibilities you previously had, that can help establish a pattern of retaliation or constructive dismissal. Also, if you have any witnesses to the hostile behavior (coworkers who've seen the demeaning comments, etc.), try to get written statements from them while the incidents are fresh in their memory. Their testimony could be crucial if you end up needing to appeal a TWC denial.
This is really helpful advice! I hadn't thought about documenting changes to my job duties, but you're absolutely right - they have been shifting my responsibilities around lately. They took me off a project I'd been leading for months and gave it to someone with less experience, then assigned me a bunch of administrative tasks that aren't really in my job description. I'll start keeping track of these changes too. Getting witness statements is tricky though - most of my coworkers are scared to get involved because they don't want to become targets themselves. But there are a couple people who might be willing to help if I ask privately.
@Sean, definitely start by logging into your TWC account first like others mentioned. I had to correct my employer info last year - turned out they had the wrong business name listed which was messing up my claim. The online portal will show you most of your info, but sometimes wage details are hidden until you dig deeper. If you can't figure out what's wrong from looking at your account, try calling the employer unit specifically (different number than regular claims) - they were actually more helpful than the main line in my experience. Good luck!
Thanks Charlotte! That's really good to know about the employer unit having a different number. I didn't even realize there were separate lines for different issues. Do you happen to remember what that number was, or know where I can find it on their website? The employer info angle makes sense too - I should definitely check if my previous employer's details look right.
I went through a similar situation a few months ago and what really helped me was printing out everything from my TWC account before making any calls or corrections. Having all the details in front of me made it so much easier to explain what was wrong when I finally got through to someone. Also, if you do end up calling, have your Social Security number, claim confirmation number, and a pen/paper ready - they'll ask for all that info right away and sometimes the connection is spotty so you want to be efficient with your time. One thing I learned the hard way: if they tell you a correction will take "a few days" to process, it usually means at least a week, so don't panic if you don't see changes immediately.
I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now! My license expired 3 weeks ago and I've been stuck in ID.me limbo ever since. Reading through all these responses has given me so much hope - I had no idea about the Trusted Referee option or contacting state reps for help. One thing I wanted to add that might help others: if you have an old passport (even expired), bring that along with your other documents for the Trusted Referee call. Even though mine expired 2 years ago, the ID.me representative said having multiple forms of government-issued ID, even expired ones, helps establish your identity pattern and makes the verification process smoother. Also, for anyone else in this boat - start the Trusted Referee process EARLY in the morning like around 7-8 AM if possible. I tried at 2 PM yesterday and was position 400+ in the queue, but when I started at 8 AM today I was only position 89. Still waiting but much more manageable! Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and workarounds. This community is a lifesaver when you're dealing with bureaucratic nightmares like this!
That's a great tip about bringing the expired passport too! I actually have one that expired a couple years ago and didn't think it would be useful, but if it helps establish identity pattern that makes total sense. Also really smart about starting early in the morning - I was planning to try this afternoon but sounds like the wait times are way better in the AM. Thanks for sharing your experience with the queue positions, that's super helpful data! Hope your verification goes smoothly today!
Thank you all for this incredibly helpful thread! I'm in a very similar situation - my Texas license expired last month and I've been completely stuck trying to get my unemployment benefits started. Reading through everyone's experiences and solutions has been a huge relief. I had no idea about the ID.me Trusted Referee option - that sounds like exactly what I need. I'm going to try that first thing tomorrow morning based on the advice about starting early to avoid the massive wait times. I also never considered contacting my state representative's office, but that makes total sense. If the Trusted Referee route doesn't work out, I'll definitely reach out to my rep's constituent services team. One quick question for those who successfully used the Trusted Referee process - did you need to have your documents in any specific format? Like, did they need to be scanned/photographed beforehand, or could you just show them to the camera during the video call? I want to make sure I'm fully prepared before I start the queue. Really appreciate everyone taking the time to share their workarounds and experiences. This is exactly the kind of real-world advice you can't find anywhere else!
For the Trusted Referee call, you just need to have your physical documents ready to show to the camera - no scanning or special formatting required! I held up my expired license, social security card, and utility bill directly to the camera and the representative could see them clearly. They might ask you to angle the documents different ways or move closer/further from the camera to get a good view, but that's totally normal. One tip: make sure you're in a well-lit room and have a stable internet connection for the video call. The representative needs to be able to clearly see the text and photos on your documents. Also have a pen and paper ready in case they give you any reference numbers or instructions to write down. The whole video verification process took about 15 minutes once I got connected, and most of that was just the rep asking me to confirm personal details and show each document. Way easier than I expected! Good luck tomorrow morning - starting early really does make a huge difference with the wait times.
Daniel Price
This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation where my TWC account is showing confusing status information that doesn't match what I was initially told. It's such a relief to see that these system glitches are common and fixable. I love how this community comes together to share real solutions - the specific tips about asking for a "portal correction request" and getting transferred to the "benefits control" team are exactly the kind of detailed advice you need when dealing with TWC's complex system. For anyone else reading this who might be in a similar situation, this thread is proof that persistence pays off and that these display errors can be resolved! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and congratulations Noah on getting it fixed!
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Isabella Russo
•I'm jumping in as someone who's been lurking on this community for a while but finally had to create an account after reading this thread! This exact situation happened to my neighbor last month - the overpayment display error after being legitimately approved. What really strikes me is how consistent the solution has been across everyone's experiences: the "portal correction request" seems to be the magic phrase that gets results. I'm bookmarking this thread because the step-by-step advice here is better than anything I've found on TWC's official resources. It's frustrating that we have to become experts in their system quirks just to get what we're entitled to, but I'm grateful for communities like this where people share real solutions. Noah, thanks for updating us with the resolution - that follow-through helps so many future people who will find this thread when searching for the same problem!
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Keith Davidson
This thread is such a goldmine of information! I'm currently dealing with a TWC issue myself (different from the overpayment display error but equally frustrating) and seeing how everyone rallied to help Noah figure out his situation really gives me hope. The fact that multiple people experienced the same "portal correction request" solution shows this is definitely a systemic issue with their March 2025 processing. What I find most valuable is how specific everyone got with the details - knowing to ask for the "benefits control" team and not accepting vague "we'll look into it" responses is the kind of insider knowledge you can't get anywhere else. TWC's system clearly has some serious technical issues, but this community's collective problem-solving is amazing. Noah, congrats on getting it resolved, and thanks for posting the update - that kind of closure is so helpful for future readers dealing with similar issues!
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