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TWC payment method confusion - Will first benefit payment come on TWC card or paper check?

Just got my unemployment claim approved yesterday (thank goodness)! When I was filling out the application, I'm pretty sure I selected to receive payments through the TWC debit card option, but now I'm second-guessing myself. It's been 3 days since the approval and I haven't received anything in the mail yet. Does anyone know if the first payment typically comes as a paper check regardless of what you selected? Or should I be looking for the TWC ReliaCard in my mailbox? This waiting game is stressing me out because I've got bills due next week. Any guidance would be super helpful!

Congrats on getting approved! The first payment usually depends on what payment method you selected during your initial application. If you chose the ReliaCard debit card option, they'll mail you a new card first (which can take 7-10 business days to arrive) and then load your benefits onto it. If you selected direct deposit, they would deposit directly to your bank account. Paper checks are less common now but still an option if you selected that. You can verify your payment method by logging into your TWC account online and checking your payment options in your profile settings. Also, keep in mind that even after approval, your first payment might take a little time to process - especially if you just got approved yesterday.

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Hannah Flores

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Thank you!! I just checked my account and it does say ReliaCard is my payment method. Is there any way to track when the card will arrive? I'm getting nervous since I have rent due soon.

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mine showed up like 2 weeks after i got approved lol the card comes separate from ur actual payment notification so dont panic yet

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Hannah Flores

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2 weeks?? Ugh that's going to put me in a tight spot with bills. Thanks for the heads up though.

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Grace Lee

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The TWC payment system is so frustrating! When I got approved back in February, it took them nearly 12 days to send my ReliaCard, but then another 3 days for the actual payment to post to the card. The most annoying part is there's no real tracking system for the card delivery. One thing you should know - when the card does arrive, you'll need to activate it immediately by calling the number on the sticker. And set up a PIN you'll remember because if you forget it and get locked out, that's a whole other headache dealing with U.S. Bank customer service.

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Hannah Flores

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Thanks for the warning about the PIN! I'll definitely write it down somewhere safe. Is there any way to change to direct deposit now or am I stuck with the card option?

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Mia Roberts

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You can actually change your payment method from ReliaCard to direct deposit even now. Log into your TWC account, go to Payment Option, and update your preference. However, for your first payment, if they've already processed it for the ReliaCard, that's where it will go. If your payment status shows "processed" but you haven't received the card yet, you might want to call TWC to check if there's an issue. The problem is getting through to an actual person at TWC...

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Hannah Flores

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Just checked and it shows "payment processed" from yesterday! I definitely need to call them then. Any tips on how to actually reach someone? I tried today and just got the busy signal for an hour straight.

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The Boss

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I had same problem last month!! I waited forEVER and nobody answerd at TWC. I found this service called Claimyr that got me through to a TWC rep in like 20 minutes instead of calling for days. It was at claimyr.com and they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh that shows how it works. They basically call TWC for you and when they get someone, they connect you. Was worth it because I found out my card was sent to wrong address!

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does that actualy work? ive been trying to get thru for 3 days...

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Hannah Flores

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Thank you! I'll check this out because I'm getting desperate. I really need to know if they have the right address on file for my card.

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One more thing to keep in mind - your first payment might include back pay from your effective date to your approval date. So while waiting for the card is frustrating, that first payment might be larger than you expect. After you get this first payment sorted out, I strongly recommend switching to direct deposit for future payments. It's much faster (usually 2-3 business days after requesting payment) and more reliable than waiting for the ReliaCard system.

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Hannah Flores

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That's good to know about the back pay! And yes, I'm definitely switching to direct deposit the moment I can figure out this first payment situation.

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I HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM!! Called TWC literally 46 times (I counted) before I got through last week. Turns out they had sent my ReliaCard to my old address even though I updated my address in the system. The rep had to cancel that card and issue a new one. Now I'm waiting AGAIN for another 7-10 days. The whole system is broken and they don't care that people have bills to pay! Make sure you verify your address when you finally get through to someone.

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omg that sucks so bad! did u ever get ur money?

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Yeah, finally got the new card yesterday and all my benefits were on it. But I had to borrow money from family to cover rent because of the delay. TWC doesn't care that their mistakes cause real problems for people!

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Hannah Flores

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UPDATE: I managed to get through to TWC this morning (took forever). The representative confirmed my ReliaCard was mailed out 2 days ago and should arrive within 5-7 business days. She also verified they have my correct address. For anyone else in this situation, I recommend calling as early as possible (I called right when they opened at 8am) and being super persistent. Now just waiting anxiously for that card to show up!

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Great news! Glad you got confirmation. Once you receive the card, consider setting up the ReliaCard mobile app - it will let you track when deposits are made and manage your funds more easily while you wait to switch to direct deposit for future payments.

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Grace Lee

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Thanks for updating us! This is actually helpful for others who might be in the same situation.

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