Whether you're having issues with unemployment payments, checking the Internal Revenue Service "Get My Payment" tool or wondering about payments for your children, we've got you covered.
Texas Workforce Commission payments
Has it been weeks since you filed for unemployment, but you still have not gotten paid? If so, you may be forgetting a key step. According to the Texas Workforce Commission, many filers (especially first-timers) have been forgetting to go back in and request their payments. You must do this every two weeks.
So, if you have applied and you have not done that, log in to your TWC account and find "Payment Request" in the menu. Click it, and then answer the questions that appear. Then repeat every two weeks.
A lot of independent contractors, self-employed, and gig workers (like Uber and Lyft drivers) who are eligible for unemployment benefits are just getting the minimum benefit. If you prove your wages to TWC so that you can increase your benefit. One of the TWC commissioners recently posted a short video about this.
The documentation he talked about in the video can be sent to TWC the following ways:
Fax: 512-936-3250
Mail: Texas Workforce Commission, P.O. Box 149137, Austin, TX 78714
Email: San Antonio UI Mail sanantonio.uimail@twc.state.tx.us
TWC passed along some new information in a Facebook Live session Wednesday. Here were some of the bigger takeaways:
Issues with "Get My Payment" tool
The IRS has set up a new tool called “Get My Payment” that allows you to add your direct deposit account info to get your relief payment, commonly known as a "stimulus check," electronically. Many people have had trouble getting that site to work and have gotten a screen like this:
Some people report that they have made numerous attempts and finally got the site to work. Others say they got it to work the first time. And many others complain they have tried repeatedly to no avail.
The site is more limited than many people had hoped. It allows you to add bank info, but you cannot change your bank info that is already on file with the IRS. There has been great frustration about that. Here are some frequently asked questions with answers about the new tool from the IRS. More questions were answered here.
What about payments for my children?
Some of you are still wondering where the payment is for your children. WFAA recently reported on this. If you have a dependent older than 16, they get nothing. And you do not get a payment for them. A fix for that is still in the works. It is a bill called the "All Dependents Count Act".
It has been proposed in Congress, but it must still pass. Included in the original WFAA report linked above, there is a directory if you would like to contact your senators and your representative to let them know what you think about the bill. All of that contact information is also included at the bottom of this article.
Fidelity is hiring
Finally, a lot of people are worried about their investments these days. Fidelity has been swamped and say they are now hiring hundreds of people in North Texas.
MORE: Click here to register for a hiring webinar Fidelity is holding April 23.
A Fidelity spokeswoman said they are currently hiring 300 employees for a number of roles, from financial consultants to customer service representatives.
"The majority of the roles are in client-facing positions," spokeswoman Janelle O'Haugherty said. "Fidelity Investments’ client-facing employees play a critical role in helping our customers no matter what is going on in their lives."
Fidelity says they are working for people with the ability to build strong relationships, who can help clients reach their goals as "part of a customer-obsessed team."
The company, which currently has more than 5,700 employees in North Texas, will hire new college graduates, according to their spokeswoman.
"While we had plans to hire upwards of 2,000 people across the U.S. later in the year, the needs of our customers who are seeking help and guidance have increased and we want to ensure they continue to experience the best service possible," said O'Haugherty.
Additional background about the hiring process
- Fidelity says they are focused on creating a virtual onboarding process that is safe for both the company and the new employee. They have shifted to a remote process but still want to make new employees feel welcome in a number of ways, with a focus on:
- safety in how they receive equipment and tools in a controlled or remote way
- clear communication including virtual access to a hiring manager and a peer buddy through phone, video, text, e-mail
- creating a virtual onboarding experience that includes self-guided materials, virtual meet and greets, and more
- The company offers a paid development program to help new associates build skills for their career
- Employees transitioned to a work-from-home model when the COVID-19 crisis arose and will continue until further notice, Fidelity says. Ten percent of the workforce is considered essential and continues to work in the company's offices.
- Work-from-home will be considered for each new role, depending on the requirements for that position
How to contact your elected leader about the All Dependents Count Act
All the information below is compiled from the list of elected leaders organized by The Texas Tribune:
Wherever you live in Texas, these are your two senators:
U.S. Senator John Cornyn
Phone: 512-469-6034
Email form: https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/contact
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JohnCornyn
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sen.JohnCornyn
U.S. Senator Ted Cruz
Phone 202-224-5922
Email form: https://www.cruz.senate.gov/?p=form&id=16
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/SenTedCruz
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tedcruzpage
Congressional representatives for North Texas:
U.S. Representative Van Taylor
District 3 (R-Plano)
Phone 202-225-4201
Contact form: https://vantaylor.house.gov/contact/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RepVanTaylor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RepVanTaylor
U.S. Representative John Ratcliffe
District 4 (R-Heath)
Phone 202-225-6673
Contact form: https://ratcliffe.house.gov/contact/
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/RatcliffeTX4
U.S. Representative Lance Gooden
District 5 (R-Terrell)
Phone 202-225-3484
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RepGooden
U.S. Representative Mike Conaway
District 11 (R-Midland)
Phone 202-225-3605
Contact form: https://conaway.house.gov/contact/
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/ConawayTX11
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mike.conaway
U.S. Representative Kay Granger
District 12 (R-Fort Worth)
Phone 202-225-5071
Contact form: https://kaygranger.house.gov/contact
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RepKayGranger
U.S. Representative Mac Thornberry
District 13 (R-Clarendon)
Phone 202-225-3706
Contact form: https://thornberry.house.gov/contact/
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/MacTXPress
U.S. Representative Bill Flores
District 17 (R-Bryan)
Phone 202-225-6105
Contact form: https://flores.house.gov/contact/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RepBillFlores
U.S. Representative Jodey Arrington
District 19 (R-Lubbock)
Phone 202-225-4005
Contact form: https://arrington.house.gov/contact/#email
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JodeyArrington
U.S. Representative Kenny E Marchant
District 24 (R-Coppell)
Phone: 202-225-6605
Contact form: https://marchant.house.gov/contact/
U.S. Representative Roger Williams
District 25 (R-Austin)
Phone 202-225-9896
Contact form: https://williams.house.gov/contact/email-me
U.S. Representative Michael C. Burgess
District 26 (R-Lewisville)
Phone 202-225-7772
Contact form: https://burgess.house.gov/contact/356345.htm
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaelcburgess
U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson
District 30 (D-Dallas)
Phone 202-225-8885
Contact form: https://ebjohnson.house.gov/contact-us
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/RepEBJ
U.S. Representative Colin Allred
District 32 (D-Dallas)
Phone 202-225-2231
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ColinAllredTX
U.S. Representative Marc Veasey
District 33 (D-Fort Worth)
Phone 202-225-9897
Contact form: https://veasey.house.gov/contact/email-me
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/RepVeasey
U.S. Representative Ron Wright
District 6 (R-Arlington)
Phone 202-225-2002
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/ron4congress
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wright4congress
U.S. Representative Brian Babin
District 36 (R-Woodville)
Phone 202-225-1555
Contact form: https://babin.house.gov/contact/
Congressional representatives for the rest of Texas can be found here.
