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TWC account locked for suspected fraud - need advice before Tuesday payment request deadline

Freaking out a little - my TWC unemployment account got locked yesterday because of 'suspected fraud' (I did NOTHING wrong!). I called the fraud department immediately and after waiting on hold for 2 hours, they just took my info and said someone would call me back within 24-48 hours. It's been almost 2 days with zero contact. I'm supposed to file my payment request by Tuesday and I'm worried I'll miss it and lose benefits. Has anyone dealt with this? What are my options if they don't call back? Can I still request payment even if my account is locked? This is my first time on unemployment and I really need this money for rent.

AstroAce

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I had the same thing happen last month - it's actually pretty common now. TWC is dealing with a lot of fraud cases so legitimate accounts get flagged sometimes. You need to keep calling the fraud department daily until you reach someone who can help. Don't wait for them to call back because they're swamped. If you miss your payment request, you can explain the situation once your account is unlocked and request a backdating of your claim. Just make sure you document everything - names of agents you speak with, dates/times of calls, etc.

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Omar Zaki

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Thank you! I've called 4 times today already and keep getting the message that all agents are busy. Should I try different times of day? Also, is there a specific form for backdating a payment request or do I just explain it to them when I call?

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Chloe Martin

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this happened to me to they NEVER call back u gotta keep calling them its so frustrating

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Omar Zaki

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Ugh, that's what I was afraid of. Did you eventually get your account unlocked? How long did it take?

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Diego Rojas

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The suspected fraud lock is happening to tons of people right now. I went through this in January. Here's what you need to do: 1. Call the fraud dept EVERY day as early as possible (7:30am is when they open) 2. If you miss your payment request deadline, don't panic - you can request a backdated payment once your account is unlocked 3. Ask the agent to make notes in your file that you're actively trying to resolve this 4. If you can't get through by phone, send an email to twc.fraud@twc.texas.gov with your claim info (name, last 4 of SSN, phone #) and explain that you need assistance before your payment request deadline It took me about 6 days to get my account unlocked, but I did get all my backdated payments. The system is frustrating but they will eventually sort it out.

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Omar Zaki

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Thank you so much for the detailed advice! I'll definitely try calling right when they open tomorrow. I didn't know about the email option - I'll do that as well. How long did it take them to respond to your email?

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I just got through this exact situation last week. The fraud department phone lines are completely overwhelmed right now. After trying for days with no luck, I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got through to a TWC agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh The agent was able to verify my identity and remove the fraud lock while I was on the phone. Saved me potentially weeks of waiting. Just make sure you have your ID and social security card ready when you call.

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Sean O'Donnell

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does that actually work? i thought those services were scams lol

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Omar Zaki

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Thank you! I've never heard of this service before. I'll check it out if I can't get through tomorrow morning. At this point I'd try anything to get this resolved before Tuesday.

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Zara Ahmed

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THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO MAKE U GIVE UP!!!!! They flag accounts as "fraud" to delay payments and make people so frustrated they stop filing. I got locked out for THREE WEEKS and had to drive 2 hours to an actual TWC office to get it fixed!!! THEY ARE STEALING FROM US!!!!!

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Diego Rojas

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While the system certainly has problems, there is a legitimate fraud issue they're trying to address. The real problem is they don't have enough staff to handle the volume of cases. The local office visit is actually a good suggestion though - sometimes that's faster than waiting for phone callbacks.

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Omar Zaki

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I didn't even think about going to an office in person. Is that faster than calling? There's an office about 30 minutes from me.

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StarStrider

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so i had my account locked for fraud last year and what worked for me was calling EXACTLY at 7:30am when they open. i got through after trying for like 15 minutes and they verified my identity right there and unlocked my account. i was able to request payment the same day. but like others said if you miss the deadline they can backdate it so dont worry too much

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Omar Zaki

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This is super helpful! I'm setting my alarm for 7:15 tomorrow to be ready to call right when they open. Fingers crossed I can get through.

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Luca Esposito

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When my account was locked for suspected fraud, I discovered that it was because someone had attempted to access my account from an unrecognized device in another state. The fraud department needs to verify your identity before they can unlock your account. Here's what I recommend: 1. If you can't reach them by phone, try going to your local Workforce Solutions office in person with your identification documents (driver's license, social security card, etc.) 2. Even with your account locked, document the dates you would have requested payment - you'll need this information for backdating 3. Once your account is unlocked, you'll need to submit a Payment Request Revision through your online portal under the "Payment Request" section 4. You might also need to complete a new ID.me verification even after your account is unlocked Don't worry about missing Tuesday's deadline as long as you're actively trying to resolve this. TWC has procedures for these situations.

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Omar Zaki

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Thank you so much for the detailed information! I didn't know about the Payment Request Revision option. I'm going to try calling early tomorrow, and if that doesn't work, I'll go to the local office. Really appreciate everyone's help!

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