I just went through the ID.me verification process last week and wanted to share my experience. It really is completely normal now - TWC requires it for pretty much all new claims as others have mentioned. One thing I'd add is to make sure you do the verification when you have some uninterrupted time. I tried to rush through it during my lunch break and ended up having to start over because I got distracted and the session timed out. The second time I set aside about 30 minutes and it went smoothly. Also, if you wear glasses like I do, you might need to take them off for the facial recognition part. The system had trouble matching my face with my driver's license photo at first. Once I removed my glasses, it worked perfectly. Your claim should definitely move forward once the verification is complete - it's just one of those necessary steps now. Best of luck with the process!

I went through the ID.me verification about 6 weeks ago and can confirm it's totally standard now. Don't worry about it being a red flag - it's actually required for all new claims since they implemented it to cut down on fraud. A few things that helped me get through it smoothly: - Clear your browser cache before starting - Make sure you're on a stable wifi connection (not mobile data) - Have your documents laid out flat on a solid surface for the photo uploads - The facial recognition works best with natural lighting from a window The whole thing took me about 25 minutes and my claim was updated within 2 business days after completion. Just be patient with the process and don't rush through the steps. You've got this!

Reading through this entire thread has been so helpful for me! I just completed my ID.me verification yesterday and was already starting to worry when my status didn't update overnight. Seeing that the normal timeframe is 3-10 business days really puts things in perspective. I'm especially grateful for the tip about checking the "My Wallet" section in ID.me - I just confirmed that Texas Workforce Commission is listed there, so I know I completed all the steps correctly. The advice about continuing to request payments even while showing as unapproved is something I definitely wouldn't have thought to do on my own. This waiting period is stressful when you're counting on these benefits, but knowing that so many others have gone through the exact same experience and it worked out makes me feel much more confident. Thanks to everyone who shared their timelines and experiences - this community support is invaluable when dealing with TWC's slow systems!

This thread has been such a goldmine of information! I'm currently on day 3 of waiting for my ID.me verification to sync with TWC, and reading everyone's experiences has really helped manage my expectations. I was getting anxious because I thought it would be instant, but now I understand 3-10 business days is completely normal. I double-checked my ID.me account and confirmed TWC is listed under authorized partners, so I know I completed everything correctly. The tip about continuing to request payments even while showing "unapproved" is crucial - I almost skipped this week's request thinking I should wait. It's such a relief to know that payments will process retroactively once verification clears. The financial stress is real when you're waiting for benefits, but this community has made the waiting period so much more bearable by sharing real experiences and timelines. Thanks to everyone who took the time to help others understand this confusing process!

I'm in almost exactly the same situation and it's driving me crazy! Filed my claim about 5 weeks ago, got the monetary determination saying I qualify, but it's been stuck "under investigation" ever since. My employer is also fighting it - claiming I quit when I was actually laid off due to company-wide budget cuts. What really gets me is how they can send you that determination letter saying you're eligible but then leave you hanging for weeks or months without any real updates. I've been doing my payment requests every two weeks like clockwork but my account balance is still $0. The financial stress is unreal when you're counting on this money to survive. I've tried calling TWC dozens of times but it's always busy or I get disconnected after waiting on hold forever. From reading everyone's responses, it sounds like this is unfortunately pretty normal right now - which is both reassuring and infuriating at the same time. @Savannah Vin - those emails about budget cuts and your termination letter should definitely work in your favor! At least you have solid documentation. I'm in a similar boat with my layoff paperwork. Hopefully both our cases get resolved soon and we get that backpay. This whole system really needs an overhaul though - people shouldn't have to wait months for benefits they're legally entitled to!

I'm dealing with the exact same frustrating situation! Filed my claim about 4 weeks ago and got that determination letter saying I qualify for benefits, but my status has been stuck on "under investigation" this whole time. My former employer is disputing it too - they're claiming I was fired for attendance issues when I was actually laid off as part of company downsizing. Like everyone else here, I've been filing my payment requests every two weeks but haven't seen a penny yet. The waiting is absolutely brutal, especially when you have rent and bills due. I've probably called TWC 50+ times but can never get through - it's always busy or I get disconnected after hours on hold. Reading through all these responses is both reassuring and infuriating. Reassuring because clearly this is happening to tons of people right now, so at least I know I'm not alone or doing something wrong. But infuriating because the system is obviously completely overwhelmed and broken when this many people are stuck in the same limbo for months. I have my layoff documentation ready to go, including emails from management about the company restructuring. Just wish TWC would actually get around to reviewing these cases instead of leaving us all hanging! The determination letter should mean something more than just "you might eventually get benefits if we ever get around to looking at your case." Hang in there everyone - hopefully we'll all get our backpay soon!

I went through this exact same situation a few months ago! The ID.me verification process definitely causes temporary account lockouts - it's like their systems don't communicate properly. Here's what worked for me: 1. Wait at least 48-72 hours after completing ID.me verification before trying to log in again 2. Use an incognito/private browser window 3. Try logging in during off-peak hours (early morning or late evening) For the waiting period - that first week is just gone, unfortunately. It's Texas policy and there's no way around it. But make sure you don't miss any future payment requests because of the login issues, or you'll lose those weeks too. If you're still locked out after 3-4 days, definitely try that Claimyr service someone mentioned or call your state rep's office. I ended up having to do both when TWC wouldn't fix my account manually. The whole system is designed to be frustrating, but don't give up - you'll get through this!

I've been dealing with TWC for over a year now and this is exactly what happened to me after ID verification too! The account lockout is super common - their system basically flags your account for "manual review" after ID.me verification, even though you did everything right. Here's what I learned from my experience: The waiting period letter you got is separate from your login issues. That first week in July will never be paid (unless you go back to work and get 3 payments first, like someone mentioned). The second week might be recoverable if it was just a system glitch. For the login problem, definitely try what others suggested - incognito browser, clear everything, wait 72+ hours. But honestly? After dealing with this multiple times, I'd recommend calling your state rep's office if the 7am calling doesn't work. They have direct contacts at TWC and can usually get account issues resolved within 24-48 hours instead of you spending weeks trying to get through. Don't stress too much about missing next Tuesday's payment request - if you can't log in due to their system error, they usually won't penalize you for that specific situation. Just document your attempts to log in (screenshots of error messages, etc.) in case they ask later. You're going to get through this! The system is broken but people do eventually get their benefits sorted out.

Just wanted to add my experience for anyone else reading this thread - I went through the same process about 6 months ago. The key thing that helped me was keeping detailed records of all my payment dates and amounts. When I called to request my waiting week, the TWC agent was able to quickly verify my exhaustion date and process it immediately over the phone. Also, if you're having trouble getting through on the phone lines, try calling right at 8 AM when they open - I had better luck early in the morning. The automated system for requesting waiting weeks actually worked fine for me, so you might not even need to speak to a live agent. Hope this helps someone else going through this stressful process!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now too! My benefits are down to about $300 and I'm so confused about the timing. Reading through all these responses has been super helpful - it sounds like the consensus is to wait until that final payment actually shows up in your account before requesting the waiting week. One thing I'm still not clear on though - when you call the Tele-Serv number, does it automatically know you're eligible for the waiting week once your benefits are exhausted? Or do you have to provide specific information about your claim dates? I'm worried I'll mess something up when I make that call. Also, has anyone had issues with the waiting week payment being delayed or rejected? I'm already stressed about money and can't afford any delays or complications with this process.