My first unemployment payment still has not arrived

I was laid off as a forklift operator 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. What would you check first?

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

Mine took about 20 weeks because of an identity check I did not notice. Look for a message or a letter you may have missed in your online account.