Waiting 19 weeks on my first unemployment payment (St. Louis)

I filed my claim 19 weeks ago after being let go as a paralegal. Any experience at all would help. The page shows my claim as open but no payment date. What would you check first?

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

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