My first unemployment payment still has not arrived (Birmingham)

I filed my claim 26 weeks ago after being let go as a nurse's aide. I worked as a nurse's aide before this. The page shows my claim as open but no payment date. Is there a step I could have missed?

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.