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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 U.S. bank or credit union. We cannot deposit payments in a bank outside of the United States.
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
Before you sign up for direct deposit, you must have a Tele-Serv Personal Identification Number (PIN).
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 nine-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 U.S. 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.
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 above.
If You Do Not Want Your First Payment by Check
We mail you a check only if you request payment during the nine-day direct-deposit verification period.
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 start requesting payment.
If you already have a debit card:
- Submit your payment request before signing up for direct deposit.
- Confirm that the debit card vendor has deposited your payment.
- Sign up for direct deposit and your next payment should go to your personal account.
Bank Verification
We give your bank or credit union nine business days to verify direct deposit information before we can deposit benefits directly into your account. If you request payment during the nine-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 nine-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.
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.