Waiting 20 weeks on my first unemployment payment - first time posting

I was laid off as an event coordinator and filed right away, and I have been certifying every week. 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.

Mine took about 20 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.