How to Request Benefit Payments Online

Tutorial Content
This tutorial includes instructions for
completing, submitting, and certifying your
payment request made over the Internet.
You can go through the tutorial page by page,
or you can skip to any section by selecting the
following links:
• Requesting Payment Online
• Ongoing Eligibility Requirements
• Review and Submit Payment Request

You might want to print pages from this

tutorial. If you don’t have a printer, you can
use a printer for free at your local Workforce
Solutions office.

2
Requesting payment over the Internet is fast, easy, and secure
You can request unemployment benefit payments and report
earnings over the Internet or by calling Tele-Serv, the Texas
Workforce Commission (TWC) interactive phone system.
Request payment one to two weeks after you first apply for
benefits and every two weeks after that.You can find the date you
are scheduled to request payment on your Unemployment Benefits
Services (UBS) account or by calling Tele-Serv.

Here’s what you need to get started ...

Your Tele-Serv Personal
Whether you request payment over the Internet or by calling Identification Number (PIN) is a
Tele-Serv, you will need access to the Internet or a phone four-digit number you create to
verify your identity on Tele-Serv
plus your:
and for some online transactions.
• Social Security number It protects your identity and
privacy because no one can
• Earnings information, if applicable submit a payment request or get
your claim information from Tele-
• Number of work search activities Serv without using your PIN.

When you sign up for Unemployment Benefit Services, you

will also need your Personal Identification Number (PIN).

Return To Contents Page 3

Requesting Payment Online

In this section you will learn:

• About the My Home page

• When to request payment
• How to use Unemployment Benefits Services
to see your filing day and your next payment
request day
• How to calculate your biweekly payment day
• How to request payment
• How to change your payment option
• How to report work and other income

Return To Contents Page

Unemployment Benefits Services

This is the first screen you will

see when you visit our website at
ui.texasworkforce.org.

Before you can log on to the

Unemployment Benefits System
(UBS), you must have a user ID and
password.

For instructions on how to create,

retrieve or reset a user ID and
password, go to the User ID and
Password Tutorial.

Select this link if you already have a User

ID or Password or if you need to create a
User ID and Password.

Return To Contents Page 5

Important
Your information will not be saved if you log off before you receive a confirmation.

Remember:
• The system will log you out if you have not selected
any action button such as Next, Previous, or Submit
within 30 minutes.Your information will not be saved.
If this happens, you must log back on and re-enter your
information for your payment request.
• Read all instructions carefully.
• Complete each screen from top to bottom.
• Information marked with a red asterisk * is required.
• Certify the Truth in Filing statement.
• Your request IS NOT COMPLETE until you submit it
and receive a confirmation number.

Return To Contents Page 6

My Home
The My Home page displays after
you log in to UBS.
The My Home page provides
useful information about finding
a job, training programs, career
development, payment options,
messages from TWC, and much
more.
The My Home page also provides
a Quick Links menu that allows
you to access various benefits
system topics, applications, and
resources. The page also provides
a Change My Profile menu that
allows you to view and change
your personal and profile
information.

Return To Contents Page 7

When to Request Payment
You must request your unemployment benefit payment every two weeks on your scheduled filing
day.
When you apply for unemployment benefits, TWC sends you a document titled: Instructions for
Requesting Benefit Payments. This document shows your first filing day, your Tele-Serv filing
day, and instructions for filing online or through Tele-Serv.
You must request your first benefit payment on your first filing date.

Return To Contents Page 8

Scheduled Filing Day and Payment Request Day
You can also find your scheduled filing day and your next payment request day by calling Tele-Serv at
800-558-8321 (select Option 2) or by logging in to Unemployment Benefits Services (UBS) and viewing your
Claim and Payment Status. The Claim and Payment Status page can be accessed from the Quick Links menu.

Remember to make a note of

your scheduled filing day and
the next date you must request
payment.
You should request benefit
payment every two weeks after
your first filing date on your
scheduled filing day.
You should request payment
on the filing day listed on the
instructions as Tele-Serv Filing
Day and on your claim and
payment status whether you use
Tele-Serv (800-558-8321, option
1) or UBS to request payment.

You are scheduled to request benefit payment on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. These are designated
filing days, and you should always request payment on your filing day. If you are unable to request payment on
your filing day, you can request payment during the same week on our open filing days: Thursday, Friday, and
Saturday.

Return To Contents Page 9

Calculating Your Biweekly Payment Day
The following table shows how to calculate your next filing day.
For example, if you requested payment on a Monday, you should
Remember, you must request
payment during the same week request your next payment on the second Monday after that.You
as your designated filing day. If can also request payment during the open filing days in the same
you miss requesting on your
filing day or during the open
week as your designated filing day.
filing days in the same week,
try to request payment as soon
as possible. If the system tells
you your payment request is
late, you will need to call our
Tele-Center at 800-939-6631
and tell the customer service
representative (CSR) that your
payment request is late. The CSR
will inform you when to request
payment next.
If your payment request is late,
your benefit payment may be
delayed or you may not get paid.

See the next page for three examples showing how to use the
table.
Return To Contents Page 10
Calculating Your Biweekly Payment Day (continued)

Example 1 – Normal Example 2 – You Miss One Example 3 – You Miss a

Payment Request of Your Filing Days: Filing Week:
Schedule: You request payment on a You request payment on a
You request payment on a Tuesday during your first week. Wednesday during your
Monday during your first You skip the next Tuesday first week.You skip the next
week.You would SKIP the in week 2, but then miss the Wednesday like you should,
next Monday in week 2, and Tuesday after that in week 3. but then forget to file on the
then request payment on the To stay on schedule, you would Wednesday in week 3 and do
Monday after that in week request payment on any of our not request payment during our
3. Then you would skip the open filing days during week open filing days that week.You
Monday in week 4 and request 3.You would then skip the should try to request payment
payment again on the next Tuesday in week 4, and request as soon as possible. If the
Monday. payment again on the next system tells you your payment
Tuesday after that. request is late, you must call the
Tele-Center at 800-939-6631
and tell a customer service
representative (CSR) that your
payment request was late. The
CSR will inform you when to
request payment next.

Return To Contents Page 11

Calculating Your Biweekly Payment Day (continued)

When you request payment on Unemployment Benefits

Services, the program will display the next date to request
payment on Claim and Payment Status. Please make note of
the date and mark it on your calendar.
Remember: If you do not request payment on time, your
payment may be delayed or you may not get paid.You should
try to request payment as soon as possible. If the system tells
you your payment request is late, call our Tele-Center at
800-939-6631 and tell the customer service representative
(CSR) that you filed your payment request late. The CSR will
inform you when to request payment next.

Return To Contents Page 12

How to Request Payment
To get started with a payment
request, log on to UBS and select
Payment Request from the
Quick Links menu on the My
Home page.

Return To Contents Page 13

Truth In Filing
The Truth in Filing page provides important requirements regarding personal information, payment requests,
instructions in the Unemployment Benefits Handbook, and fraud.You must read and certify that you understand
and agree to comply with these requirements.

Return To Contents Page 14

Begin Payment Request

The Begin Payment Request screen shows:

• The Payment Request Period
• A link to the TWC debit card fee
schedule
Completion Requirements:
If you submit your payment request after
6 p.m. Central, TWC will process your
payment in two business days.
Your payment request is not complete
until you have submitted it and received a
confirmation message.Your data will not
be saved if you log off before receiving the
confirmation message.

Return To Contents Page 15

Begin Payment Request (continued)
The first section in Begin
Payment Request shows you
your Payment Request Period.
The example given shows a
payment request period in
December 2018.
The information following the
red asterisk * is important.
If this is your first claim
and you are receiving your
benefits on the TWC Debit
Card, you must read the U.S.
The Current Payment Option Bank debit card fee schedule
section shows information by selecting the following link:
regarding our current Receiving Benefit Payments by
payment method. Debit Card
New claims default to the
TWC Debit Card.
If you need to change your
payment option, select Yes.
You can only change your
payment option once
when you submit your
first payment request.
To change your payment
option again, select
Select Yes to change your payment option. The change
Payment Option from the
payment option is explained on the following pages.
Quick Links menu.

Return To Contents Page 16

Change Payment Option
Before changing your payment option, you will
be asked to verify your identity by entering
your PIN.

If you are changing your payment option from

the TWC Debit Card to direct deposit, you
will see information regarding direct deposit
account information.
Provide the routing number, account number,
and the account type.
If you are unsure of your routing and account
numbers, contact your bank or credit union
If you sign up for direct deposit, It takes up to eight business days
before choosing the direct deposit
for a bank or credit union to verify a direct deposit account. On the payment option.
ninth business day, TWC can submit a payment to the direct deposit
account if the claim is eligible for payment.

Return To Contents Page 17

Change Payment Option (continued)

If you are keeping the TWC Debit Card, or

changing your payment option from direct
deposit to the TWC Debit Card, you will be
shown the Current Payment Option: Debit Card
Authorization page.

All claimants keeping the TWC

Debit Card, or changing to the
TWC Debit Card, will have to
read and acknowledge that they
have read the U.S. Bank Debit
Card fee schedule.
The fee schedule lists fees and
limits to TWC Debit Card
activities and transactions.
The fee schedule can be accessed
here: U.S. Bank Card Fee Schedule
Selecting Next will take you to
the Payment Option: Review and
Submit screen.

Return To Contents Page 18

Change Payment Option (continued)

The Payment Option: Review and Submit

page shows the payment method you
selected. It allows you to review the
information you provided.
If something is incorrect, select Previous
to navigate back to the Payment Option:
Change Payment Option page.

If you select direct deposit, make sure your

account type, account number, and routing
number is correct.You will not be able to
make changes once you submit.
Selecting Submit will complete the change
payment option request.
You will be shown a confirmation page
confirming that the payment option has
been successfully submitted.
Select Next on the confirmation page to
return to the Payment Request page.

Return To Contents Page 19

Work and Other Income
When requesting a payment, you must answer
these questions:
• Did you work in Claim Week 1?
• Did you work in Claim Week 2?

One of the most common mistakes is

believing that you do not need to report
earnings from part-time work.
This is not true.
You must report earnings from ALL work,
no exception.
It does not matter whether you got the
job before or after you started
your claim.

If you need help calculating your earnings, visit our

tutorial: How to Calculate and Report Earnings

Return To Contents Page 20

Other Income

You must report income from:

• Severance pay or wages paid instead of
notice of layoff
• Retirement pensions
• Disability insurance
• Military retirement or
disability pay
• Worker’s compensation
After you report these types of income, TWC
will mail you a decision on your eligibility for
unemployment benefits.
Depending on your answers, you may be
asked for additional information.
After you report these types of income, TWC
will mail you a decision on your eligibility for
unemployment benefits.

Return To Contents Page 21

Ongoing Eligibility Requirements

In this section you will learn about

ongoing eligibility requirements,
such as:

• Ability and availability to work

• Work Search

Return To Contents Page

Ability and Availability TWC considers individuals available for work
if they are ready, willing and able to accept any
suitable full-time work.

To be considered able and available, you must:

• Be physically and mentally able to
perform the work you seek.
• Have the health and other physical and
mental abilities needed for the job you’re
looking for.
• Be available for full-time work during the
weeks you are filing for.
Availability includes, but is not limited to:
• Having adequate transportation.
• Having adequate child care arrangements
if you have children.
• Being available for job interviews.
• Being willing to work all the days and
hours required for the type of work
you seek.
• Being willing to accept the usual rate of
pay for a person of your qualifications
Depending on your answers, you may be asked for
and experience.
additional information.

Return To Contents Page 23

Work Search

You must:
• Make your minimum number of
work search activities each week.
• Keep detailed records of your
work search efforts.
TWC routinely verifies work search
activities.

When you get a job, go to www.WorkInTexas.com and report that you got a job!

Return To Contents Page 24

Review and Submit Payment Request

In this section you will learn how to:

• Review and edit your payment request

• Certify and submit your payment request
• Confirm your payment request
• How to request payment for backdated
weeks

Return To Contents Page

Review and Submit
The Review, Edit, and Submit section shows you all the information you entered and allows you to
make changes by selecting the Edit link at the beginning of each section. Read the summary page very
carefully and correct any errors before you submit your payment request.

Return To Contents Page 26

Certify and Submit
To complete the payment request, you must certify that your information
is true and complete, then select Submit.

Important!
You cannot make changes after you certify and submit your payment request. However,
if you need to correct any information on your request, call the Tele-Center the next
business day at 800-939-6631 to discuss your situation.

Return To Contents Page 27

Confirm Payment Request
Once you submit your payment
request you will receive a message
on the Confirmation page stating
that your request has been accepted,
canceled, or rejected.
Read the confirmation message
carefully.
If you are given the opportunity
to request benefit payments for
backdated weeks, you must request
them at that time. If you do not,
the system will not allow you to try
later and you will have to call the Tele-
Center.
If you are directed to call the Tele-Center by a specific
date and do not call, you will not be paid for the
payment request submitted, and TWC will place a hold
on all future payments until you call.

Return To Contents Page 28

How to Request Payment for Backdated Weeks
If you request payment using UBS,
and you have backdated payment
weeks that you have not yet
requested payment for, a message
informing you that you have not
requested payment for some recent
benefit weeks is displayed on the
Confirmation page:
Select Request Additional Payment.
You are taken to another Begin Payment
Request page with two additional claim
weeks in the Payment Request Period section.
Select Next and answer the questions for the
additional claim weeks.

If you have additional backdated weeks, the

Request Additional Payment button will If you have any questions or problems with any
appear again on the Confirmation page. Select backdated payment requests, call our Tele-Center
the Request Additional Payment button
and repeat the payment request process. at 800-939-6631 to speak with a customer service
Repeat the entire process until there are no representative.
more backdated weeks.

Return To Contents Page 29

 Still need help?
Call the TWC Tele-Center
at 800-939-6631
to speak with one of our
customer service representatives.

Return To Contents Page