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If you haven't received your unemployment or stimulus check, here's what you can do

Having issues with unemployment payments? The IRS "Get My Payment" tool not working? Wondering about payments for your children? We have answers.

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 menuClick it, and then answer the questions that appear. Then repeat every two weeks.

Credit: Texas Workforce Commission

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:

Credit: Texas Workforce Commission

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:

Credit: IRS

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:

You can find your Congressional district here.

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RatcliffeForCongress

U.S. Representative Lance Gooden

District 5 (R-Terrell)

Phone 202-225-3484

Contact form: https://gooden.house.gov/zip-code-lookup?form=/contact/email-me

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/RepLanceGooden

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

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/RepKayGranger

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/repmacthornberry

U.S. Representative Bill Flores

District 17 (R-Bryan)

Phone 202-225-6105

Contact form: https://flores.house.gov/contact/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/RepBillFlores

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

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JodeyArrington

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/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/RepKenMarchant

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kenny-Marchant/6349487899

U.S. Representative Roger Williams

District 25 (R-Austin)

Phone 202-225-9896

Contact form: https://williams.house.gov/contact/email-me

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/RogerWilliamsTX

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RepRogerWilliams

U.S. Representative Michael C. Burgess

District 26 (R-Lewisville)

Phone 202-225-7772

Contact form: https://burgess.house.gov/contact/356345.htm

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/michaelcburgess

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Eddie-Bernice-Johnson/84096022067

U.S. Representative Colin Allred

District 32 (D-Dallas)

Phone 202-225-2231

Contact form: https://allred.house.gov/zip-code-lookup?form=/contact/email-me

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/ColinAllredTX

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Marc-Veasey/1248020461

U.S. Representative Ron Wright

District 6 (R-Arlington)

Phone 202-225-2002

Contact form: https://wright.house.gov/zip-code-lookup?form=/contact/email-me

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/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/Babin4Congress

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/https://www.facebook.com/BabinForCongress

Congressional representatives for the rest of Texas can be found here.

More on WFAA:

VERIFY: Will I have to pay to get the money? Answering more of the top stimulus check questions.

5.2 million more seek unemployment aid as US layoffs continue to spread

Read this before you raid your 401(k) during coronavirus crisis

Asset manager shares tips on how to use federal payments

VERIFY: Yes, debt collectors could take your stimulus check money

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