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Overview
Direct deposit is a free service that allows us to deposit unemployment benefit payments directly into your personal checking or savings account at any United States bank or credit union. We cannot deposit payments in a bank outside of the United States.
If you signed up for direct deposit on a prior claim, we will use the account information you previously provided. To change your account information, follow the instructions provided below.
If you do not select direct deposit, we will pay your benefits through a TWC debit card issued by our debit card vendor.
Requesting Direct Deposit
When to Sign Up for Direct Deposit
- Request direct deposit the next business day after you apply for unemployment benefits. Do not wait for us to determine whether you are eligible for benefits.
- If you are being paid by debit card, you may change to direct deposit at any time by following the instructions below.
How to Sign Up for Direct Deposit
Sign up for direct deposit or change your payment option online or by phone:
- Online at Unemployment Benefits Services (ui.texasworkforce.org). Select Payment Option from the Quick Links menu.
- With our automated phone system, Tele-Serv. Call 800-558-8321 and select option 5.
TWC staff cannot set up your direct deposit because we do not have access to your confidential bank numbers.
You can change your payment option or bank account information as needed. The eight-day verification process described below begins again.
Entering Bank or Credit Union Information
Regardless of how or when you request direct deposit, you will need to enter the nine-digit routing number of your United States bank or credit union and your checking or savings account number.
- Use a personal check, not a deposit slip, to get the routing and account numbers from the bottom of the check, as shown in the image.
To Avoid Getting a Payment by Check
TWC sends your direct deposit account information to your bank or credit union, which has eight banking days to verify your account. If you submit an eligible payment request before direct deposit is set up, TWC will mail you a check. Therefore, you should confirm your address by logging on to Unemployment Benefits Services and selecting Contact Information under the My Profile menu.
If you do not already have a TWC debit card:
- Sign up for direct deposit the next business day after you apply for unemployment benefits.
- We can then verify your account information before you are scheduled to start requesting payment.
If you already have a debit card:
- Submit your payment request before signing up for direct deposit.
- The next business day, confirm that the debit card vendor has deposited your payment.
- Sign up for direct deposit. We can then verify your account information before you are scheduled to submit your next payment request.
Bank Verification
We give your bank or credit union eight business days to verify direct deposit information before we can deposit benefits directly into your account. If you request payment during the eight-day verification period, we will pay you by check.
If your bank rejects your direct deposit information:
- We will mail you a letter explaining why the bank rejected your account information.
- We will pay you by debit card. If you do not already have a TWC debit card, you should receive a card from our debit card vendor within seven business days of our letter.
- You may contact your bank or credit union to correct the problem and then resubmit your request to TWC for direct deposit. Whenever you submit new direct deposit information, the eight-day verification process begins again.
Verifying Your Direct Deposit Information
You can verify your direct deposit information:
- Online at Unemployment Benefits Services (ui.texasworkforce.org).
Select Payment Option from the Quick Links menu. - With our automated phone system, Tele-Serv. Call 800-558-8321 and select option 5.
If TWC has direct deposit as your current option, we will show you the last four digits of your account number.
Avoid Scams
After TWC verifies your account information, we send your payment directly to your bank or credit union. Be aware of e-mail scams that try to steal your personal banking information by claiming there are problems with your unemployment payment. Check with your bank or credit union regarding their e-mail policies before you respond to any e-mail purporting to be from your financial institution. Contact your bank or credit union directly if you have questions about your payment.
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Average Time for Deposits
After your account information has been verified by your bank or credit union, you can expect payment within two business days after we process your payment request. That is the same amount of time it takes for payment to be added to your debit card.
