Sometimes you might receive less money than you expected from your shifts. This article explains the most common reasons for partial payments and what you can do about them.
Understanding W-2 Instapay partial payments
If you use Instapay for W-2 shifts, your payment is split into two parts:
First payment (Instapay): 60% of your estimated earnings minus a fee
Outside California: 5% fee of the Instapay amount
In California: Flat $5 fee regardless of the payment amount
Example (outside CA): For a $100 shift, you'll receive $57 ($60 minus the $3 fee)
Example (in CA): For a $100 shift, you'll receive $55 ($60 minus the $5 fee)
This payment is sent shortly after you clock out
Second payment (Weekly): The remaining 40% minus taxes and deductions.
For W-2 shifts, the split-payment system ensures compliance with payroll regulations and accounts for tax withholdings, adjustments, and other deductions.
This payment is processed during the regular weekly payroll cycle
Taxes and other deductions are taken from this portion.
You'll receive this payment on the regular weekly schedule
Taxes and deductions on W-2 earnings
For W-2 shifts, taxes are automatically withheld from your earnings:
- Federal income tax
- State income tax (where applicable)
- Social Security and Medicare taxes
- Any other required deductions
These deductions can significantly reduce the amount you receive compared to your pre-tax earnings. To see exactly what was deducted:
1. Log into your ADP account
2. Navigate to the Pay Statements section
3. Find the relevant pay period
4. Review the itemized deductions
If you haven't registered for ADP yet, use the registration code provided by Instawork to create your account. To register for ADP:
Locate your ADP registration code in an email titled "Welcome to ADP" from noreply@adp.com.
Click on the "Register Now" link in the email, enter your registration code, and follow the instructions to create your account.
After registration, navigate to MYSELF > Annual Statements > W-2 in ADP to view your paystubs.
Timesheet adjustments and hour changes
Your payment might be less than expected if there were adjustments to your hours:
Actual vs. scheduled hours: You're paid for actual time worked, not scheduled time
Break deductions: Unpaid breaks are subtracted from your total hours
Approved disputes: If hours were adjusted after a dispute resolution
Late arrivals or early departures: Clock-in/out times that differ from the scheduled shift For any discrepancies, follow these steps to request an hour adjustment:
Open the Instawork app.
Go to Past Shifts and select the relevant shift.
Click on Request Hours Adjustment, provide the correct details, and submit for review.
Dispute processing typically takes 72 hours for the partner to review.
Note: You are able to submit an hours dispute as long as you have already clocked out for the shift and are within 12 hours after your shift ended. If the shift is more than 12 hours after clock-out time, you can no longer dispute it. Please reach out to support.
Why negative adjustments happen
Your payment might be less than expected due to negative adjustments when:
The Partner adjusted your clock-in/out times
Unpaid break time was added or extended
You arrived late or left early from your shift
The system is correcting a previous overpayment
To prevent negative adjustments
Confirm your hours with the supervisor before leaving
Take photos of any paper timesheets
Clock in and out accurately using the app
If you receive a negative adjustment, check your payment details in the app and contact support immediately.
Payment timing differences
Sometimes what looks like a partial payment is actually a timing issue:
Delayed processing for specific shifts: Some individual shift payments may take longer to process than others, especially if there were timesheet adjustments
Bank processing times: Your bank may show deposits for different shifts at different times
Different payment methods: If you've recently changed your payment method, some shifts may be paid to your previous method while others go to your new on one. In rare cases, negative adjustments to clock-in or out times may result in reduced or delayed payments. Check your ADP paystub or app for details and file a dispute with supporting evidence if necessary.
To understand exactly what you were paid for:
1. Open the Instawork app
2. Go to the Earnings tab
3. Select the shift in question
4. Review the payment breakdown
5. For W-2 shifts, also check your ADP account for complete details
Common questions about partial payments
Q: Why did I receive less than my total payment amount?
A: The most common reasons are W-2 Instapay splits, tax deductions, timesheet adjustments, or payments spanning different pay periods.
Q: When will I receive the remaining balance of my W-2 Instapay payment?
A: The remaining 40% (minus taxes and deductions) will be processed during the weekly payroll cycle, typically on Wednesday for the previous week's shifts.
Q: How can I receive my full payment at once instead of partial payments?
A: For W-2 shifts, select "Weekly" instead of "Instapay" in your payment settings. This way, you'll receive your full payment (minus taxes) in one transaction during the weekly pay cycle.
If you have questions about your payment amount or believe there's an error, please contact our support team through the app within 7 days of receiving your payment.
Tips to Prevent Future Payment Discrepancies:
Confirm shift start and end times with your supervisor before leaving.
Double-check your timesheet for accuracy while onsite.
Periodically review your paystubs to ensure no unexpected deductions or adjustments. For submitted disputes, follow these steps to check the status or provide additional evidence:
Open the Instawork app and tap the question mark (?) on the top-right corner.
Select I want to follow up on a previous issue to view open cases.
Provide any supporting documents, such as timesheets, names of supervisors, or screenshots of discrepancies, by uploading through the app.