TWC payment schedule confusion - weekly or biweekly benefits?
I just received my first TWC unemployment payment last week (got the check on 9/27) and I'm confused about the payment schedule. My next scheduled date to request payment is 10/6, but I'm wondering if I'll get another payment this Friday (10/4) even though I don't need to call in this week? Does TWC pay benefits weekly or every two weeks? This is my first time on unemployment and I'm trying to budget for bills coming up next week. Thanks for any help!
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Adaline Wong
Texas pays unemployment benefits every two weeks, not weekly. You request payment every two weeks on your designated filing day (in your case 10/6), and then the payment processes 2-3 business days after that. So no, you won't get a payment on 10/4. You'll need to request on 10/6 first, then probably receive payment around 10/8-10/9 depending on your payment method.
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Tate Jensen
•Thanks for clarifying! That's a relief actually because I was worried I missed something. So just to be sure - I'll request payment on 10/6, then wait for payment later that week, and then my next request date will be two weeks after that (around 10/20)?
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Gabriel Ruiz
Biweekly!! I thought the same thing when I first started. Got all worried when no money showed up the next week lol
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Misterclamation Skyblue
Quick tip: sign up for direct deposit if you haven't already! The paper checks take forever to arrive compared to direct deposit which is usually 2-3 days after you request payment. You can set it up in your TWC account under payment options. Each time you request payment, you'll actually be claiming for the previous two weeks (they call them "payment requests" not "weekly claims" like some other states).
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Tate Jensen
•I actually just set up direct deposit yesterday! The lady at the workforce center told me it might take 1-2 payment cycles before it kicks in though. Should I expect my next payment to still come by check?
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Misterclamation Skyblue
•Yes, your next payment will probably still be a check since you just set it up. The system usually takes one full payment cycle to process the direct deposit info. After that, you should start getting deposits directly to your bank account. Just make sure you entered everything correctly - one wrong digit in the account/routing number and your payment can get delayed.
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Peyton Clarke
when i got unemployment in texas they always told me to request on sunday and i got paid wednesday. always been every 2 weeks. the first 2 weeks was the waiting period so u dont get paid for that
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Vince Eh
TWC payment system makes NO SENSE!!! I've been on unemployment for 3 months now and STILL sometimes my payments come late or not at all and then I have to spend DAYS trying to get through to someone on the phone. Last time I called, I was on hold for 4 HOURS only to get disconnected when someone finally picked up!!!
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Sophia Gabriel
•I had the same frustrating experience trying to reach TWC! After three days of constant busy signals, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/V-IMvH88P1U?si=kNxmh025COIlIzKh. Saved me so much time and stress when I had payment issues similar to yours.
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Tobias Lancaster
make sure u do ur work searches too!!!! i almost lost my benefits cuz i forgot to log my 3 job applications for the week. twc is super strict about that now.
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Tate Jensen
•Yes I've been keeping track of all my work search activities! I have a spreadsheet with all the details since I heard they sometimes do random audits. Do they actually check with the employers to verify applications?
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Adaline Wong
To answer your follow-up question - yes, your payment schedule will continue to be biweekly. So after your 10/6 request, your next one would be 10/20, then 11/3, and so on. TWC assigns everyone a specific day to request payment (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday) based on the last digit of your Social Security Number. You'll always request on that same day every two weeks. And a tip about the work search requirements - while TWC can audit your work search activities at any time, they typically don't verify every single application with employers. But when they do audit, they'll ask for specific details, so keep good records of where you applied, contact information, job titles, and application dates.
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Gabriel Ruiz
i just filed my request online never call in. way easier IMO
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Tate Jensen
•I didn't know you could request online! I've been calling the Tele-Serv number. Is the online method faster? Where on the website do you go to do that?
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Adaline Wong
•You can request payment online through your TWC account. Just log in to ui.texasworkforce.org and select "Request Payment" from the dashboard. Many people find it easier than the phone system since you can see everything you're entering and there's less chance of making mistakes. Plus, you don't have to worry about busy signals or call volume issues.
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Ryan Vasquez
•Online is definitely faster! I switched from calling after my second payment request. You just log into your TWC account at ui.texasworkforce.org and click "Request Payment" - it walks you through the same questions they ask over the phone but you can take your time. No more waiting on hold or dealing with busy signals. The system is usually available 24/7 too, so you don't have to worry about calling during business hours.
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Chuck Gifford
What about the back pay when they said it goes back to a specific date
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Matthew Sanchez
Hey there! I'm also pretty new to the TWC system and this thread has been a goldmine of information. Just wanted to add that I found it helpful to bookmark the TWC login page (ui.texasworkforce.org) on my phone's home screen so I can easily access it on my payment request days. Also, if you're like me and tend to be forgetful, consider setting up multiple reminders - maybe one a few days before your request date to prepare your work search info, and another on the actual day. The biweekly schedule definitely takes some adjustment, especially coming from jobs that paid weekly, but you'll get into the groove quickly!
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Sophia Carson
•That's such a smart idea about bookmarking the login page on your phone! I just did that right now - makes so much more sense than trying to remember the URL every time. The multiple reminder strategy is brilliant too. I was just planning on one reminder, but you're right that having one a few days early to gather work search info would be really helpful. That way I'm not scrambling to remember all my job applications when it's time to request payment. Thanks for sharing those practical tips! It's reassuring to connect with someone else who's new to this system too.
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