How to access TWC ReliaCard funds before physical card arrives in mail?

Thank you! Just tried registering on the website but it keeps asking for the card number which I obviously don't have yet. Am I missing something? Did you have to call customer service first?

That's odd - I was able to register without the card number. Did you try the "first-time login" option and use your SSN? Maybe they've changed the system since you tried it last year.

Maybe they fixed it finally!! They told me it was "for security reasons" when I called. If they changed it that's good news for everyone dealing with this garbage system!

I was in this exact situation last month. The fastest way to get help is actually using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to reach TWC directly. I was stuck in a loop with US Bank saying talk to TWC and TWC saying talk to US Bank. Used Claimyr's service to get through to TWC without the busy signals, and the agent was able to expedite my card delivery. They have a video demo of how it works: https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh - was super helpful when I was stressed about my mortgage payment.

Thank you for this info! $15 fee is worth it to avoid late payment fees on my bills. Will try calling them tomorrow morning.

My card took 12 days to come not 7-10 so dont count on their timeframe lol. And i live in a major city not even rural area.

Thanks for the info. 7-10 business days is a long time when you're waiting on money for necessities though. I'll try the emergency transfer option that someone mentioned above.

That's super helpful! Did they just give you the card number over the phone? I'm surprised they'd do that for security reasons, but I'll definitely give it a try.

They made me answer a bunch of verification questions first - last address, SSN, date of birth, and then some other security questions pulled from my credit report. It wasn't simple but it worked!

Actually, Texas does offer direct deposit as an option. During your initial claim filing or by calling TWC, you can choose between the ReliaCard or direct deposit to your personal account. If you received a ReliaCard, it means either that option was selected during the application process or direct deposit information wasn't provided.

well nobody told me that when i applied! would have saved me a lot of trouble

awesome! glad it worked out for you

Great to hear! For future reference, you can also switch to direct deposit for future payments by updating your payment method preference in your TWC account or by calling TWC directly.

That's exactly what I needed to hear! I'm in the same situation right now - just got approved but still waiting for my card. Going to call them first thing Monday morning. Did they ask for any specific documents or just the usual verification questions?

Just the usual verification questions from what I remember - SSN, date of birth, address, and then they pulled some questions from my credit report like previous addresses or accounts I've had. Nothing too crazy, but make sure you have all your personal info ready before calling. The wait time was long but totally worth it to get access to the funds!

This is such valuable info for anyone dealing with this issue! I wish TWC made this process clearer from the start. It's ridiculous that people have to figure out these workarounds just to access their own unemployment benefits. At least now there's a clear solution - call US Bank, get verified, get your card number, then register online. Thanks for sharing the update!

Thanks for posting the update! This is really helpful. I'm dealing with the same issue right now - my ReliaCard should arrive any day but I have rent due tomorrow. Going to try calling them today. Quick question - when you called, did you use the main customer service number or is there a specific number for people waiting for their cards to arrive?

I used the main customer service number (1-800-657-6343) that's on their website. When I called, I just explained that I was waiting for my ReliaCard to arrive but needed to access my unemployment funds urgently. They transferred me to someone who could help with account verification. The whole process took about 45 minutes including wait time, but it was definitely worth it to get access to the money before my bills were due!

That's a great alternative option! I didn't know you could request expedited delivery through the TWC app. $25 is definitely worth it if you need the physical card quickly. Thanks for sharing this - it's good to know there are multiple ways to solve this problem depending on your specific situation and timeline.

This is exactly the kind of comprehensive breakdown that should be pinned at the top of this community! I wish I had known about all these options when I was dealing with this issue last year. The emergency transfer option sounds like the best balance of speed and cost. Quick question - when you did the emergency transfer, did you have to provide your regular bank account details over the phone, or were you able to set that up online after getting verified?

This is incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with this exact situation right now and had no idea there were so many options. I've been stressing about my car payment that's due in two days. The emergency transfer option sounds perfect for my situation - I'd rather pay the $15 fee than risk a late payment fee. One question - when you called for the emergency transfer, did they process it immediately or was there still a waiting period for the transfer to go through?

This is super helpful! I had no idea there were so many options available. I'm currently in week 2 of waiting for my ReliaCard and have been panicking about my utilities getting shut off. The emergency transfer option sounds like exactly what I need - $15 is nothing compared to reconnection fees. Quick question though - when you called for the emergency transfer, did they need your routing and account numbers right away or do they walk you through setting that up? I want to make sure I have everything ready before I call so I don't waste time on hold again.