My first unemployment payment still has not arrived - any advice?

I applied for unemployment in Chicago 25 weeks ago and the status page still says pending. I answered every question and uploaded my final pay stub. What would you check first?

Mine took about 25 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.

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