Waiting 21 weeks on my first unemployment payment

I was laid off as a software tester and filed right away, and I have been certifying every week. I called the state line four times and only reached a recording. 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.