Waiting 17 weeks on my first unemployment payment - any advice?

I was laid off as a nurse's aide and filed right away, and I have been certifying every week. I worked as a nurse's aide before this. I called the state line four times and only reached a recording. Has anyone been through this? How long did it take in the end?

Thanks for writing this out. I went through something close to it last year, and it settled down once I kept a simple log of every call and form.

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