Confused about ID.me verification after TWC denial - do I still need to complete it?

ID.me is a third-party identity verification service that TWC started using to prevent fraud. Even if you were denied, completing the verification might be necessary if you want to appeal the denial or file a new claim in the future. The system doesn't always sync up perfectly, so you might be getting automated emails about verification that were triggered before your denial went through. What was the reason for your denial if you don't mind sharing?

YES YOU ABSOLUTELY NEED TO DO THE ID.ME!!! I ignored those emails thinking the same thing after my initial denial and it was a HUGE MISTAKE. When I tried to appeal, they wouldn't even LOOK at my case because I hadn't verified. The system is COMPLETELY BROKEN - they deny you first then make you jump through hoops to appeal!!! It's designed to make people give up!!!

ID.me is annoying but pretty easy. You just need your drivers license and they do a video selfie thing. Took me like 10 min. My issue was getting someone at TWC on the phone after I did the verification. Had to wait on hold forever.

I had this exact problem last month! If you worked in Oklahoma, you might need to file an interstate claim instead of a regular Texas claim. That's probably why you were denied. You still need to do the ID.me verification though. I think the reason you're getting those emails is because the ID.me requirement applies to everyone in the system regardless of claim status. I tried calling TWC for like two weeks with no luck until I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have a system that gets you through to a TWC agent without spending hours on hold. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh. It seriously saved me so much time and the agent was able to help me file the right kind of claim after my denial.

id.me is a big pain honestly. make sure u have good lighting for the video part or it will keep failing. i had to try like 5 times cuz my apartment is dark lol. but yea even if ur denied now u might need to apply again later so just do it and get it over with

To clarify about your specific situation: Based on what you mentioned about working in Oklahoma, you likely need to file an interstate claim. When you worked in another state within your base period (the period TWC looks at to determine eligibility), you need a different type of claim than a standard Texas claim. The reason you're still getting ID.me verification requests is that it's now required for all accounts in the TWC system, regardless of claim status. Completing it now will save you time if you need to appeal or file a different type of claim. The denial based on "not enough qualifying wages" is common for interstate situations because TWC initially only looks at Texas wages. Once you file an interstate claim, they'll consider your Oklahoma wages too. For the verification process: ID.me is a secure identity verification service that uses documentation (like your driver's license) and biometric data (like a video selfie) to confirm you are who you say you are. It helps prevent unemployment fraud, which became a major issue during the pandemic.

wait i thought id.me was a scam???? my friend got an email about it and thought it was phishing

Update: I completed the ID.me verification last night - it was actually pretty straightforward. Now I'm going to try contacting TWC about filing an interstate claim. Thanks everyone for the help and explaining this process to me!

Great to hear you got the ID.me verification completed! Just wanted to add that when you call about the interstate claim, make sure you have all your Oklahoma employment information ready - dates of employment, employer name and address, and your final pay stub if you have it. TWC will need to coordinate with Oklahoma's unemployment system to get your wage records, which can take a few weeks to process. Don't get discouraged if the interstate claim process takes longer than a regular claim - it's normal and worth the wait since it sounds like you definitely have qualifying wages once they look at your Oklahoma work history.

Just wanted to add another perspective here - I went through a similar situation last year where I got denied initially but still had to complete ID.me verification. The verification requirement is actually separate from your claim status, so even if you're denied, you still need to complete it for your TWC account to be fully activated. Think of it as a security measure for your account rather than something tied to your specific claim. Also, completing it now means if you need to file weekly certifications later (if your appeal is successful or you file a new claim), you won't have to deal with verification delays. The whole system is honestly confusing but getting the ID.me done is definitely the right move!

I went through something very similar earlier this year! I was initially denied because TWC couldn't see my out-of-state wages, but I still had to complete the ID.me verification. It felt backwards at the time, but it's actually smart to get it done early because the verification can take 24-48 hours to fully process in their system. One tip for the interstate claim process - when you do get through to TWC, ask them specifically about filing a "Combined Wage Claim" since you have wages from both Texas and Oklahoma. This might be faster than a regular interstate claim depending on your situation. Also, keep records of when you complete each step (ID.me verification, phone calls, etc.) because if there are any delays or issues, having those dates helps when you're explaining your timeline to different agents. The whole system definitely feels designed to discourage people, but don't give up! Your Oklahoma wages should count toward your eligibility once they process everything correctly.

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Got denied last week but keep getting ID.me emails. Reading through all these responses has been so helpful - I had no idea about interstate claims or that the verification was separate from claim status. I worked in Louisiana before moving to Texas so sounds like I'm in the same boat as the original poster. Going to complete my ID.me verification tonight and then try to get through to TWC about filing the right type of claim. Has anyone had success with the Combined Wage Claim that Chloe mentioned? My situation sounds similar with wages from both states.

I just wanted to chime in as someone who works in unemployment advocacy - you're absolutely right to complete the ID.me verification even after being denied. This is actually becoming a really common scenario that confuses a lot of people. The verification system operates independently of individual claim decisions, and completing it now will prevent delays if you need to file an appeal or new claim later. For your specific situation with Oklahoma wages, definitely pursue the interstate claim route that others have mentioned. What often happens is that TWC's initial automated screening only looks at Texas wage records, which is why you got the "insufficient qualifying wages" denial. Once you file the correct type of claim and they pull your Oklahoma wage records, you'll likely meet the requirements. One thing I'd add that I haven't seen mentioned yet - if you're having trouble getting through to TWC by phone, you can also try reaching out through their online messaging system in your account portal. It's not faster than calling, but sometimes it's easier to explain complex situations like interstate wage issues in writing rather than over the phone. Just make sure to be very specific about your work history in both states when you contact them.

I went through the exact same thing a few months ago! Got denied initially but kept getting those ID.me emails and was so confused. Turns out it's completely normal - the ID.me verification is required for your TWC account regardless of whether your initial claim was approved or denied. I actually called it the "bureaucratic chicken and egg problem" because you need to verify to appeal, but you get denied before verifying! The good news is that once I completed the ID.me verification and filed an interstate claim (I had worked in New Mexico), everything got sorted out. The verification itself took maybe 15 minutes - just have your driver's license ready and make sure you're in good lighting for the video selfie part. One tip that saved me a lot of headache: when you do get through to TWC, ask them to put a note in your file that you completed the ID.me verification on [whatever date you do it]. Sometimes there's a delay between when you complete it and when it shows up in their system, and having that note prevented me from having to redo the process later. Hang in there - the system is definitely confusing but it sounds like you're on the right track with the interstate claim angle!

I just went through this same process last month and wanted to share what I learned! The ID.me verification is actually required for ALL TWC accounts now, regardless of your claim status. So even though you got denied, you still need to complete it because it's tied to your account, not your specific claim. The really important thing here is that your denial was likely because TWC's system initially only looks at Texas wages. Since you worked in Oklahoma, you'll probably need to file what's called an interstate claim or combined wage claim to include those out-of-state wages. I had a similar situation with Arizona wages and once I got the right type of claim filed, I qualified easily. My advice: Complete the ID.me verification ASAP (it's pretty quick - just need your driver's license and decent lighting), then focus on getting through to TWC to discuss filing an interstate claim. The verification requirement isn't going away, so you might as well get it done now rather than having it delay things later if your appeal or new claim gets approved. Don't let the confusing system discourage you - it sounds like you should definitely qualify once they look at your Oklahoma wages!