TWC changed my direct deposit bank - will this delay my payment next week?
Hi everyone! I just updated my payment information on my TWC account because I switched banks (old one had too many fees!). I changed the direct deposit from Bank A to Bank B in the payment options section yesterday. But when I completed the change, I got a message saying the change won't be effective until 9/3. I don't need to request payment until next week, but now I'm worried about where my money will go. Will TWC still try to send it to my old account that I just closed? Is this normal to have this delay when changing payment methods? Has anyone else experienced this timing issue with changing bank accounts for their unemployment benefits?
35 comments


Harper Thompson
Yes, this is completely normal. TWC has a processing period whenever you change direct deposit information. The delay is a security measure to prevent fraud. Since your change won't be effective until 9/3, any payment requested before then will still go to your old bank account. If you've already closed that account, the deposit will be rejected and TWC will automatically issue you a paper check instead, which takes 7-10 days to arrive in the mail. If you need the money quickly, I'd recommend keeping your old account open until after the payment posts if possible.
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Lucas Bey
•Ugh I already closed the old account completely. So they'll automatically send a paper check without me doing anything? I'm worried about bills coming due. Should I call TWC to ask them to speed it up?
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Caleb Stark
this happened to me last year its a huge pain!! mine took almost 2 weeks to get the paper check after the direct deposit got rejected. just be ready to wait.
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Lucas Bey
•2 weeks?! That's so frustrating! Did you have to contact them or did they automatically send the check after the deposit failed?
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Jade O'Malley
Call TWC immediately and tell them your situation! Maybe they can push it through faster. The system is so stupid sometimes.
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Hunter Edmunds
•I tried calling TWC about a similar issue last month and was on hold for FOUR HOURS before getting disconnected. Their phone system is completely broken. OP would be lucky to even reach anyone before their payment date.
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Ella Lewis
I went through this exact situation in February. Here's what happens: you request payment, it attempts to go to your old account, bank rejects it, TWC's system recognizes the rejection, then they mail you a paper check. The whole process took about 10-12 days for me. Unfortunately, there's not much you can do to speed things up unless you can get through to a TWC representative who might be able to flag your account. If you're struggling to reach someone at TWC (which is likely - their phone lines are constantly jammed), I'd recommend using Claimyr. It's a service that helps you get through to TWC representatives without the endless busy signals. I used it when I had this same banking issue and got through in about 20 minutes instead of spending days trying. You can check it out at claimyr.com or see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh
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Lucas Bey
•Thank you! I'll look into that service because I'm already stressing about getting through to TWC. Do you know if the agents can actually help with this specific issue if I do reach them?
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Ella Lewis
Yes, TWC agents can definitely help with this! When I got through, the representative was able to make a note on my account about the bank change and expedite the paper check process. They can't override the system delay for the direct deposit change (that's hardcoded for security), but they can help manage what happens with the rejected payment. When you talk to them, specifically ask if they can flag your account for an expedited paper check once the direct deposit fails.
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Andrew Pinnock
•This is correct. I work in financial services and these security delays for changing direct deposit info are standard across government systems. It's to prevent someone from hacking your account and redirecting your payments. The TWC rep won't be able to change the effective date, but they can absolutely help with expediting the paper check process once the rejection occurs.
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Brianna Schmidt
my cousin had this problem and she ended up having to wait like 3 weeks for her money!! twc is so behind on everything smh
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Lucas Bey
Update: I managed to get through to TWC using that Claimyr service (thanks for the recommendation!). The agent confirmed that my payment will initially try to go to my closed account, fail, and then they'll issue a paper check. BUT she put a note on my file to expedite the check as soon as the rejection happens. She said instead of 7-10 days it should only take 3-5 business days to receive it after my payment request. Still not ideal but better than waiting forever! For anyone else in this situation, definitely try to reach a live person because they can help speed things up a bit.
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Harper Thompson
•Great news! That's exactly what you needed. The TWC system has these built-in delays but the agents do have some flexibility to help with special circumstances. Glad you got it resolved!
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Caleb Stark
dose anyone know if u can still change to the debit card option faster? i heard somewere that switching to the reliacard is faster than paper checks??
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Harper Thompson
•The TWC debit card (ReliaCard) option doesn't have a faster processing time than changing direct deposit info. Both payment method changes take the same security verification period. However, once you're set up on the ReliaCard system, it can be faster than waiting for paper checks in the future.
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Jade O'Malley
The whole TWC payment system is unnecessarily complicated!!! I had a similar issue last year and ended up missing rent because of their stupid delays. They should have better options for these situations!
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Lucas Bey
Thanks everyone for the help! Just wanted to update - I got my payment request in, and as expected, it tried to go to my old bank and was rejected. The good news is that expedited paper check process worked! I received my check 4 business days after the rejection happened. For anyone else dealing with this issue - definitely try to reach TWC before your payment request if possible, as having that note on your account really seems to help speed things up.
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Hunter Edmunds
•That's great! Thanks for coming back and sharing what happened. It's really helpful for others who might have the same problem.
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Selena Bautista
Glad to hear you got it sorted out! This is a perfect example of why it's worth the effort to actually speak with a TWC representative when you have payment issues. Their automated system is pretty rigid, but the agents do have some tools to help expedite things when there are legitimate circumstances like closed bank accounts. Your experience will definitely help other people who run into this same situation - the key takeaway is don't just wait and hope for the best, actually call and get a note added to your file!
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Reginald Blackwell
•Absolutely agree! I'm new to this whole unemployment process and was really worried about the bank change delay. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful. It's good to know that TWC agents can actually make a difference even when the system seems inflexible. I'll definitely remember to call them proactively if I run into any payment issues instead of just crossing my fingers and hoping everything works out automatically.
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Ellie Kim
This thread is so helpful! I'm actually going through something similar right now - I need to change my direct deposit info because my bank is charging me monthly fees that are eating into my unemployment benefits. Reading about Lucas's experience gives me hope that it's manageable even with the delays. I'm planning to make the change this week but will definitely call TWC first to ask about getting a note added to my account for expedited processing if needed. It's frustrating that there's such a long security delay, but I understand why they have these measures in place. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it really helps to know what to expect!
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Lukas Fitzgerald
•Good luck with your bank change! Definitely make that call to TWC first - it really does make a difference. One tip I learned from this whole experience: when you call, be specific about your situation and ask them to put a note about "expedited paper check processing due to closed bank account" or whatever your circumstances are. The more specific you are, the better they can help you. Also, if you're using a service like Claimyr to get through, have all your account info ready because once you finally reach an agent, you want to make the most of that time!
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Julian Paolo
I'm dealing with a similar situation right now and this thread has been a lifesaver! I changed my direct deposit info last week because my credit union merged with another bank and all the account numbers changed. TWC gave me the same message about the change not being effective until later this month. I was panicking about what would happen to my payment, but after reading everyone's experiences here, I feel much more prepared. I'm going to try calling TWC tomorrow using that Claimyr service to get a note added to my account before I request my next payment. It's such a relief to know that the agents can actually help expedite the paper check process once the direct deposit fails. The security delay is annoying but I guess it makes sense from a fraud prevention standpoint. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's so helpful to have real people's stories instead of just trying to figure out the confusing TWC website on your own!
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Destiny Bryant
•Your situation with the credit union merger sounds really stressful! Bank mergers can create so much confusion with automatic payments and direct deposits. It's smart that you're being proactive about calling TWC before your payment request - that seems to be the key difference between a smooth process and weeks of waiting. When you call, definitely mention that it's due to a bank merger rather than you voluntarily closing an account, as that might help them understand it's completely out of your control. Good luck getting through to them tomorrow!
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CosmicCruiser
Bank mergers and closures definitely create these headaches with government payments! I went through something similar when my local bank was bought out by a larger chain. The most important thing is being proactive like you all have mentioned - don't wait until after your payment bounces to contact TWC. One thing I learned is that when you call TWC, it helps to have your new banking information ready even though the change won't be effective yet. The agent can verify that your new account details are correct in the system, which can prevent additional delays later. Also, ask them to send you confirmation of any notes they add to your account - having that paper trail can be helpful if you need to call again or if there are any mix-ups. The waiting period is definitely frustrating, but at least Texas TWC is pretty reliable about automatically issuing paper checks when direct deposits fail. Some states make you jump through more hoops! Hang in there everyone dealing with these bank changes - it's temporary pain but you'll get your money!
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StellarSurfer
•This is such valuable advice about having your new banking info ready when you call! I hadn't thought about asking for confirmation of the notes they add to your account - that's a really smart tip. It's reassuring to hear that Texas TWC automatically issues paper checks when deposits fail, because I was worried I'd have to figure out some complicated process to request one. The whole situation is stressful enough without having to navigate unclear procedures. Thanks for sharing your experience with the bank buyout - it helps to know that these kinds of banking changes are pretty common and TWC has processes in place to handle them, even if it's not always smooth sailing.
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Sean Flanagan
I just went through this exact same thing a few months ago when I had to close my bank account due to excessive fees. The security delay is definitely frustrating, but it's actually a good thing - it prevents scammers from redirecting your payments if they somehow get into your account. Here's what I learned: the 9/3 effective date is firm and can't be changed, so your payment will definitely attempt to go to your old account first. Since you've already closed it, the bank will reject the deposit and TWC will automatically mail you a paper check. The key is calling TWC ahead of time (like Lucas did) to get a note on your account for expedited processing. One additional tip - when you do get through to a representative, ask them to verify that your mailing address is correct for the paper check. Sometimes people forget that their address might have changed since they first applied for benefits. The last thing you want is for the check to go to an old address on top of everything else! Also, keep an eye on your TWC account online because they usually update the payment status pretty quickly once the direct deposit fails. The whole process took about a week total for me from payment request to receiving the check, which isn't ideal but much better than some of the horror stories you hear. Hang in there - it's just a temporary inconvenience!
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Natalie Chen
•Great point about verifying your mailing address! I hadn't even thought about that but you're absolutely right - with everything going on when you're dealing with unemployment, it's easy to forget to update your address if you've moved recently. That would be such a nightmare to have the paper check go to the wrong place on top of all the other delays. I'm definitely going to double-check my address info when I call TWC tomorrow. Thanks for the reminder and for sharing your timeline - knowing it took about a week total is really helpful for setting expectations. It's reassuring to hear from people who have actually been through this process successfully!
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Isaiah Thompson
This thread is incredibly thorough and helpful! I'm bookmarking it for future reference. Just to add another data point - I experienced a similar bank change situation in January and the timeline was almost identical to what Lucas described. The direct deposit failed on a Tuesday, and I received my expedited paper check the following Monday (so 4 business days). One thing I'd emphasize is that when you call TWC, be polite but persistent about getting that expedited processing note added. Some representatives are more helpful than others, so if the first person you talk to seems dismissive or says they can't help, politely ask to speak with a supervisor. The system does have flexibility built in for situations like bank closures - you just need to find an agent who knows how to use those tools. Also, for anyone dealing with this in the future: if you're switching banks by choice rather than due to a closure/merger, consider timing it right after you receive a payment rather than right before you need to request one. That way you won't be stuck in this waiting period when you actually need the money. Planning ahead can save a lot of stress!
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Josef Tearle
•This is such excellent advice about timing bank changes! I never would have thought about doing it right after receiving a payment instead of before requesting one - that's brilliant planning that could save weeks of headaches. Your point about being persistent with TWC representatives is also really important. I've noticed with a lot of government agencies that different agents have different levels of knowledge and willingness to help, so it's good to know that asking for a supervisor is an option if you get someone who isn't being helpful. Thanks for adding your timeline data too - it's really reassuring to see multiple people confirming that 4-5 business days seems to be the standard for expedited paper checks. This whole thread should honestly be pinned or saved as a resource for anyone dealing with TWC payment method changes!
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Yuki Watanabe
Wow, this entire thread has been incredibly educational! I'm new to receiving unemployment benefits and was completely unaware that changing direct deposit information had such security delays built in. Reading through everyone's experiences really highlights how important it is to be proactive when dealing with TWC rather than just hoping things work out automatically. The consistent advice about calling ahead to get a note added for expedited processing seems to be the real game-changer here. It's also really helpful to see the actual timelines people experienced - knowing that expedited paper checks typically take 4-5 business days gives realistic expectations rather than just worrying indefinitely. I'm going to save this thread as a reference because the tips here are so practical: verify your mailing address, have your new banking info ready when you call, be specific about your situation when requesting help, and don't be afraid to ask for a supervisor if needed. The suggestion about timing bank changes right after receiving a payment instead of before requesting one is genius - that kind of strategic thinking could save so much stress down the road. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their experiences and help others navigate this confusing system. This is exactly the kind of community support that makes dealing with bureaucratic processes more manageable!
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StarSailor
•I'm so glad this thread has been helpful! As someone who's been collecting unemployment for a while now, I can definitely say that being proactive with TWC is always the way to go. Their system can be frustrating, but the representatives really can make a difference when you need help with special situations like bank changes. One thing I'd add based on my experience - if you ever need to change banks again in the future, TWC also lets you switch to their ReliaCard debit card option, which doesn't have the same security delays as direct deposit changes. It's not ideal for everyone since it comes with some fees, but it can be a good backup option if you're in a pinch and need faster access to your benefits. Just another tool to keep in your back pocket! This community is great for sharing these kinds of real-world tips that you can't always find in the official TWC documentation.
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Ava Thompson
This has been such a comprehensive and helpful discussion! As someone who's been navigating the TWC system for several months now, I really appreciate how everyone shared their actual experiences and timelines. The collective wisdom here is way more useful than trying to decipher the official TWC website. A couple of additional thoughts based on what I've learned from my own experiences: First, if you're using mobile banking and have the app for your old bank, don't delete it right away even after closing the account. Sometimes you can still see transaction attempts (including rejections) which helps you track exactly when TWC tried to deposit and when they should be sending the paper check. Second, TWC's online portal usually updates pretty quickly to show when a direct deposit has failed, so keep checking your payment history there too. The biggest takeaway from this thread is definitely the importance of calling TWC proactively. I made the mistake early on of just assuming their automated systems would handle everything smoothly, but having a real person add notes to your account makes such a difference. Thanks to everyone who shared the Claimyr recommendation too - I'm definitely keeping that in my back pocket for future TWC communication needs. This community really shows how much we can help each other navigate these bureaucratic challenges!
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Isabella Santos
•That's such a smart tip about keeping the old banking app temporarily! I never would have thought of that, but it makes perfect sense - being able to see the rejection attempt would give you a much better timeline for when to expect the paper check. Your point about checking the TWC online portal for payment status updates is really valuable too. I'm still pretty new to all of this and honestly find their website pretty confusing to navigate, but knowing that payment history updates quickly for failed deposits will help me know what to look for. It's amazing how much practical knowledge gets shared in threads like this that you just can't find in any official documentation. This whole conversation has turned what seemed like a scary bureaucratic nightmare into something much more manageable with clear action steps. Really grateful for everyone taking the time to help newcomers like me understand how this system actually works in practice!
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Sophie Hernandez
This entire discussion has been incredibly valuable! I'm currently dealing with a bank change situation myself and was really stressed about the timing until I found this thread. Reading through everyone's real experiences and timelines has been so much more helpful than the vague information on the TWC website. I wanted to add one more tip that might help others - if you're in this situation and worried about timing with bills, consider reaching out to your creditors/utility companies to explain the delay. Many of them are understanding about unemployment payment delays, especially if you can give them a specific timeline (like the 4-5 business days for expedited paper checks that people mentioned here). Some will even waive late fees if you call ahead and explain the situation. Also, for anyone who hasn't made their bank change yet but needs to - the advice about timing it right after receiving a payment instead of before requesting one is gold. I wish I had known that earlier! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, especially Lucas for the original post and follow-ups. This is exactly the kind of community support that makes navigating TWC so much easier.
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