My first unemployment payment still has not arrived - 5 weeks in

I was laid off as a nurse's aide and filed right away, and I have been certifying every week. I am in Dallas, in case local advice matters. The page shows my claim as open but no payment date.

Keep certifying every week even while you wait. If they find you eligible, the weeks you certified are the ones that count.

When I finally got through, the agent said my employer had responded late. Once that cleared, back pay came in one payment.