Does TWC unemployment require ID.me verification for all claims in 2025?

YES they DO require id.me!! dont let anyone tell you different!! my claim got stuck for 6 WEEKS because i skipped that step thinking it was optional. when i finally called they told me i HAD to complete id.me verification before they would process anything. such a headache!!!

The previous response isn't entirely accurate. TWC doesn't require ID.me for all claims, but they do require it in specific situations: 1. If there are identity verification flags on your claim 2. If you're using a new device or IP address they don't recognize 3. If your information doesn't match across databases 4. If your claim gets selected for random verification Many people do need to complete ID.me verification, but it's not universal for every claim. The safest approach is to be prepared with ID.me ready, but don't be surprised if the system doesn't prompt you for it.

In my experience with TWC last month, I got stuck in a weird loop where the system didn't explicitly ask for ID.me during the initial application, but then my claim status showed "pending identity verification" for 3 weeks. When I finally got through to someone, they told me I needed to complete ID.me verification before they could proceed. It wasn't clear from the website at all! I'd recommend having these docs ready for ID.me just in case: - Driver's license or state ID - Social security card - A utility bill or bank statement - Smartphone for the face verification Better to be prepared than stuck waiting like I was.

The whole ID.me thing is RIDICULOUS. I had to try FIVE TIMES to get through their facial recognition system because my lighting wasn't "perfect" - then ended up having to schedule a video call with a "trusted referee" which took ANOTHER week to get an appointment. Meanwhile TWC wouldn't process my claim and I'm sitting here with bills piling up. If you have ANY choice, set up ID.me BEFORE you actually need unemployment benefits. Don't wait until you're in the middle of your application or you might get stuck in verification hell.

If you're having trouble reaching TWC to get clarification on whether you need ID.me verification, I had a great experience using Claimyr to get through to an actual TWC agent. I was calling for days with no luck (busy signals, disconnects), but Claimyr got me connected to a TWC representative in about 25 minutes. The agent was able to check my claim and confirm exactly what verification steps I needed. You can see how it works in their demo video: https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh Their website is claimyr.com - honestly it was worth it to finally get actual answers instead of guessing what was holding up my claim.

heres a tip, make sure ur email for TWC and ID.me is the same one! I had different emails and that caused problems with linking my accounts. spent 2 weeks trying to figure out why my verification wasnt going through

Another important point: If you previously verified through ID.me for another government service (like IRS or VA benefits), you can use that same ID.me account for TWC. No need to create a new one or verify again. Just make sure you're logging in with the same credentials.

Just wanted to add my recent experience - I filed for unemployment with TWC last week and was required to complete ID.me verification right away. The system wouldn't let me proceed without it. However, since I already had an ID.me account from filing taxes, the process was pretty smooth - just had to log in and confirm my identity. One thing I noticed is that the TWC website now has clearer messaging about ID.me being required "in most cases" rather than being vague about it. So it seems like they're moving toward requiring it for most new claims, even if it's not technically universal yet. My advice: assume you'll need it and get your ID.me account set up beforehand. Even if you don't end up needing it, you'll save yourself potential headaches later.

Just to add another data point - I filed my TWC claim about 3 weeks ago and ID.me verification was definitely required. The system actually redirected me to ID.me right during the application process, so there was no confusion about whether I needed it or not. The verification itself took about 20 minutes once I had all my documents ready. The face scan worked fine for me on the first try, but I made sure to have good lighting and a clean background like others suggested. One thing that helped me was reading through the ID.me help section beforehand to understand what to expect. They have pretty detailed instructions about photo requirements and the verification process. Based on what I'm seeing in this thread and my own experience, it really does seem like TWC is requiring ID.me for most new claims now, even if it's not technically 100% universal. I'd definitely recommend being prepared for it rather than hoping you won't need it.

I just went through this process two weeks ago and can share what happened. TWC didn't require ID.me verification initially when I submitted my application, but about 4 days later my claim status changed to "Identity Verification Required" and I got an email directing me to complete ID.me verification. The whole process took about 30 minutes once I started it. The facial recognition worked on my second attempt (first time the lighting was too dim), and I didn't need to do a video call with a referee. What I learned from talking to the TWC rep is that they use a risk-based system - if anything in your application triggers their fraud detection algorithms, you'll get flagged for ID.me verification. This could be something as simple as filing from a different location than your address or having employment gaps that don't match their records. My recommendation: Go ahead and create your ID.me account now while you're not under pressure. Even if you don't need it right away, you might need it later in the process, and having it ready will save you stress if your claim gets flagged for verification.

I filed my TWC unemployment claim just last Friday and wanted to share my experience since it's super recent. The system definitely required ID.me verification - there was no way around it. Right after I completed the basic application info, it automatically redirected me to ID.me with a message saying "Identity verification is required to continue processing your claim." The whole ID.me process took about 45 minutes for me. I had to upload photos of my driver's license (front and back), take a selfie, and then do the facial recognition scan. The scan failed twice because I was wearing glasses, but worked perfectly once I took them off. No video call with a referee needed thankfully! One tip: make sure your phone or computer camera is at eye level when doing the facial scan. I kept getting errors when I was looking down at my phone, but once I propped it up so I was looking straight ahead, it worked immediately. Based on everyone's experiences here and my own, it really seems like TWC is requiring ID.me for the vast majority of new claims now. I'd definitely recommend setting it up before you file just to avoid any delays. Good luck with your application!

I just completed my TWC unemployment application yesterday (literally 24 hours ago) and can confirm that ID.me verification was absolutely required - no option to skip it. The system walked me through the entire process step by step. Here's exactly what happened: After filling out my basic info and work history, TWC automatically took me to a page that said "Identity Verification Required" with a big ID.me button. When I clicked it, it opened ID.me in a new tab and I had to create an account using the same email I used for my TWC application. The verification process included: - Uploading front/back photos of my driver's license - Taking a live selfie - Facial recognition scan (worked on first try - good lighting is key!) - Confirming my phone number with a text code Total time was about 25 minutes. Once completed, it automatically took me back to TWC where I could finish my application. No waiting period or additional steps needed. Based on my brand new experience and everyone else's recent stories here, TWC is definitely requiring ID.me for virtually all new claims in 2025. Don't risk the delays - just plan on needing it and get your documents ready beforehand. The process is actually pretty straightforward once you're prepared for it.

I filed my TWC claim just this morning (January 2nd) and can add to the recent experiences here. ID.me verification was 100% required - the system wouldn't let me proceed without it. After completing my basic application info, I was immediately redirected to a page that said "Complete Identity Verification to Continue" with an ID.me link. Since I already had an ID.me account from filing my 2024 taxes, I just had to log in and re-verify my identity. The process took about 15 minutes and included confirming my driver's license info and doing the facial recognition scan. The scan worked perfectly on the first try - I made sure to have bright, even lighting and removed my hat. One thing I noticed is that the TWC website now clearly states on the application page that "Identity verification through ID.me is required for most unemployment benefit claims." They're definitely being more upfront about it compared to what some of the earlier posters experienced. My takeaway: As of January 2025, you should absolutely expect to need ID.me verification for your TWC unemployment claim. Having your account set up beforehand will save you time and stress during an already difficult situation. The process itself is straightforward if you're prepared with good lighting and your documents ready.

Based on all the recent experiences shared here, it's pretty clear that TWC is requiring ID.me verification for virtually all new unemployment claims in 2025. I just wanted to add some additional tips that might help others preparing for this: 1. **Set up your ID.me account BEFORE you need it** - Don't wait until you're filing your unemployment claim. Create the account when you're not under stress. 2. **Use the same email** - Make sure your TWC application and ID.me account use the exact same email address to avoid linking issues. 3. **Have these ready**: Driver's license/state ID, Social Security card, smartphone with good camera, and a well-lit area for the facial scan. 4. **Lighting tips**: Sit facing a window during daytime or use multiple light sources. Avoid shadows on your face and remove glasses/hats during the scan. 5. **Be patient with the facial recognition** - It might take a couple tries, but don't get discouraged. Most people get it working within a few attempts. From what everyone's sharing, TWC has definitely moved toward requiring ID.me as standard practice rather than just for flagged cases. Better to be overprepared than deal with weeks of delays when you really need those benefits. Thanks to everyone who shared their recent experiences - this thread has been incredibly helpful!

Just wanted to share my perspective as someone who works in the benefits field (not for TWC, but familiar with these systems). What everyone's describing aligns with what I've been seeing across multiple state unemployment agencies - there's been a major push toward mandatory identity verification using ID.me since the pandemic fraud issues. The "risk-based" system that @Fatima Al-Farsi mentioned is spot on. While TWC might technically say it's not required for "all" claims, their algorithms are designed to flag the vast majority of applications for ID.me verification. Things like new IP addresses, minor discrepancies in personal info, or even filing outside normal business hours can trigger the requirement. My professional advice: Don't gamble on being in the small percentage who might not need it. The cost of being wrong (weeks of delays) far outweighs the 30 minutes it takes to set up ID.me proactively. Plus, having a verified ID.me account is becoming useful for other government services too - IRS, VA benefits, Social Security, etc. One additional tip from what I've seen: if you have any legal name changes (marriage, divorce, etc.), make sure your ID.me account reflects your current legal name exactly as it appears on your driver's license. Mismatches there can cause verification delays even after you complete the ID.me process.