Waiting 21 weeks on my first unemployment payment (Chicago)

I applied for unemployment in Chicago 21 weeks ago and the status page still says pending. I called the state line four times and only reached a recording.

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 21 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.