Waiting 18 weeks on my first unemployment payment - 18 weeks in

I was laid off as a payroll clerk and filed right away, and I have been certifying every week. There are 10 people counting on me, so I am trying to be careful. The page shows my claim as open but no payment date. Is there a step I could have missed?

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