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Just wanted to chime in as someone who recently went through this! I got the same ID.me verification email about 2 weeks ago and was super suspicious at first too. But it's definitely legit - TWC really does use ID.me now for identity verification. A few things that helped me: Make sure you have good wifi connection before starting, have your driver's license ready, and do it when you have about 30 minutes of uninterrupted time. The facial recognition part was actually kind of fun once I got over being nervous about it! My verification was approved within a few hours and my TWC account updated the next day. Don't let the horror stories scare you too much - most people get through it just fine, they just don't post about smooth experiences as much as the problematic ones. You've got this!
Thank you so much for the encouragement! You're absolutely right that we tend to hear more about the problems than the smooth experiences. It's really reassuring to hear from someone who just went through it successfully. I like your point about having a good wifi connection - I hadn't thought about that but it makes sense that a spotty connection could cause issues during the verification process. I'm going to set aside some time this weekend when I can focus on it without distractions. Really appreciate you taking the time to share the positive perspective!
I went through the ID.me verification process about a month ago and wanted to share my experience since I see you got some great advice already! The whole thing took me about 25 minutes from start to finish. One thing that really helped was making sure I was in a well-lit room - I tried doing it initially in my dim kitchen and the facial recognition kept failing. Once I moved to a room with better lighting, it worked perfectly on the first try. Also, don't panic if the system seems to hang for a minute or two during processing - that's normal. I thought it had crashed but it was just working through the verification. My TWC account showed the update within about 36 hours after completing ID.me. The key is just being patient with the process and having all your documents ready before you start. Good luck!
Thanks for sharing your experience! The lighting tip is really helpful - I definitely wouldn't have thought about that affecting the facial recognition. It's good to know the system might hang for a bit during processing too, since I probably would have panicked and refreshed the page or something. Really appreciate everyone in this thread sharing their experiences and tips. It's making what seemed like a scary process feel much more manageable!
I'm dealing with a similar situation right now at my new manufacturing job! They also hold back 2 weeks of pay and I was so confused about what to report. After reading through all these responses, it's crystal clear - report when you WORKED, not when you get PAID. What really helped me was calling my HR department and asking them to email me a breakdown of my hours for the week. Most companies are pretty good about providing this info since they have to track it anyway for payroll. That way you have documentation if TWC ever questions it later. Also just wanted to add - if you're working 32 hours at $16.50 like you mentioned, that $528 gross will probably reduce your weekly benefits significantly or eliminate them entirely depending on your benefit amount. But like others said, it's way better to report correctly and get reduced/no benefits than to mess up and owe money back later. TWC does NOT mess around with overpayments!
Thanks for sharing your experience! I'm feeling much more confident about this now after reading everyone's responses. You're absolutely right about getting documentation from HR - I'm definitely going to ask for my timesheet breakdown at the end of this week. And yeah, with my benefit amount being around $400 weekly, working 32 hours at $16.50 will probably wipe out most or all of my benefits for that week. But honestly I'd rather have the job and report everything correctly than risk owing TWC money later. The horror stories about overpayments in this thread are scary enough!
Just wanted to jump in as another newcomer who's been following this discussion closely - this has been incredibly helpful! I'm actually starting a new job next week that also has a 2-week pay hold, so this timing is perfect. Based on all the responses here, it's clear that TWC wants you to report wages when you EARN them (when you work), not when you receive payment. The key points I'm taking away are: 1. Calculate your gross wages (hours worked × hourly rate) for the week you actually worked 2. Get documentation from your employer (timesheet, hours breakdown) to back up your numbers 3. It's better to slightly overestimate than underestimate if you're unsure of exact amounts 4. Keep records of everything in case TWC has questions later Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - especially the cautionary tales about overpayments. That $2,700 repayment story really drove home why it's so important to get this right from the start. I feel much more prepared now!
This is such a great summary of everything! I'm bookmarking this thread because it answers so many questions I had about reporting wages during pay holds. It's really reassuring to see so many people confirm the same advice - report when you work, not when you get paid. The documentation tip is gold too. I never would have thought to ask HR for my timesheet breakdown but that makes perfect sense for keeping accurate records. Thanks for putting together such a clear list of the key takeaways!
I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Been trying to get through for three days straight and the call drops every single time right when I'm about to talk to someone. It's like they're doing it on purpose. One thing that helped me figure out what might be going on - I called my former employer directly and asked if they had reported anything to TWC recently. Turns out they had submitted some kind of update about my separation that triggered the additional info request. At least now I know what I need to clarify when I finally get through to someone. Have you tried calling super early like 6:55 AM and just sitting on hold until they officially open? Sometimes you can get in the queue before the system gets completely overwhelmed. Also worth trying the 800-939-6631 number instead of the main one - I've had slightly better luck with that line. This whole system is absolutely ridiculous though. How are we supposed to provide information if they won't tell us what they need and then make it impossible to reach anyone? Hope you get through soon!
That's such a smart idea to call your former employer directly! I never would have thought of that. I'm going to reach out to mine tomorrow to see if they submitted anything that might have triggered this. The 800-939-6631 number is new to me too - I'll definitely try that along with calling super early Monday morning. It's so frustrating that we have to become detective to figure out what they need from us! Thanks for sharing what's worked for you, and I hope you get through soon too. We shouldn't have to jump through all these hoops just to get the benefits we're entitled to.
Hey Freya, I totally feel your frustration - I went through this exact same nightmare about 2 months ago! The dropping calls are the absolute worst part because you waste so much time just to get disconnected right when you think you're finally going to talk to someone. Here's what I wish someone had told me when I was going through it: that "additional information needed" message often doesn't show up in your online portal for several days, and sometimes the issue is something completely random like they need you to re-verify your identity or clarify one tiny detail about your work search. Since you have bills due Monday, I'd suggest trying the nuclear option - show up at your local Workforce Solutions office first thing Monday morning WITHOUT an appointment. I know some offices say you need appointments, but if you explain that you have bills due and haven't been able to get through on the phone for a week, they'll usually work with you. Bring all your documentation (ID, social security card, any TWC letters you've received, bank statements showing direct deposit setup). The good news is that once you actually get to talk to someone, these issues usually get resolved in 5-10 minutes. It's just the getting to someone part that's absolutely brutal. Hang in there - your payments will come through once this gets sorted out!
Thank you Madison! The "nuclear option" of showing up without an appointment sounds like exactly what I might need to do. I'm definitely going to try that if the early morning phone calls don't work. It's reassuring to hear that these issues usually get resolved quickly once you actually get to talk to someone - makes all this phone system torture feel even more ridiculous! I'll make sure to bring all my documentation just in case. Really appreciate the encouragement and practical advice. Sometimes you just need to hear from someone who's been through the exact same thing and made it out the other side!
That's wonderful news about finally getting through to TWC! It's such a relief when you can actually speak to someone who can look into your specific situation. The employer response delay is unfortunately very common, especially during company restructuring when HR departments are overwhelmed. I'm really glad TWC will make a determination even without the employer response - that's actually a protection for claimants so unresponsive employers can't indefinitely delay benefits. The payment advance option is something many people don't know about, so definitely worth exploring for your car payment situation. Thanks for sharing the update - it gives hope to others dealing with similar delays that persistence with calling really does pay off!
So happy you got through and figured out what was holding things up! The employer response delay is really frustrating but at least now you know it wasn't anything you did wrong. I'm curious about the payment advance option - is that something you apply for through your regular TWC account or do you have to call them specifically for it? That could really help people in similar situations who are waiting on delayed claims. Thanks for keeping us updated on your progress!
I went through something very similar last month! My ID.me verification was complete but my benefits were stuck in "pending" status for almost 4 weeks. Turns out there was a wage discrepancy - TWC had different employment dates than what I reported, and they were waiting for my employer to clarify. The frustrating part is they never sent me any notice about this issue, I only found out when I finally got through to an agent. My advice: keep calling early morning (around 7:15am works best for me), and don't give up on requesting your weekly payments even though nothing seems to be happening. Once they resolve whatever secondary issue is causing the delay, all those pending payments will process at once. Hope you get it sorted out soon!
That's so frustrating that they didn't send you any notice about the wage discrepancy! It seems like a common theme with TWC - people are left in the dark about what's actually holding up their claims. Your tip about calling at 7:15am is really helpful, I'll definitely try that time slot if I need to call again. It's reassuring to know that all the pending payments will process once the issue gets resolved. Thanks for sharing your experience - it helps to know others have gotten through similar situations!
Nia Jackson
just wondering, have u talked to ur commander about this? maybe they could write u a letter explaining why u cant work nights because of army stuff? that might help ur case with TWC
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Anastasia Fedorov
•That's a brilliant idea! I have drill this weekend and will definitely talk to my commander about getting something in writing. Thank you!
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Oliver Schulz
I went through something very similar with TWC about 18 months ago. My employer suddenly changed my schedule from M-F days to rotating shifts including weekends, which conflicted with my Guard duties. Here's what worked for me: 1. I immediately sent an email to my supervisor AND HR explaining that the new schedule conflicted with my military obligations and requesting accommodation 2. I included my drill schedule and mentioned USERRA protections 3. When they refused, I forwarded everything to my unit's readiness NCO who helped me document the conflict 4. I applied for TWC benefits the day after I quit, selecting "substantial change to employment terms" as my reason TWC approved my claim after about 3 weeks of investigation. The key was having everything documented in writing. Don't just rely on verbal conversations - they won't help you with TWC. Also, make sure you mention your military service obligations specifically in your resignation letter. Good luck!
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