Waiting 22 weeks on my first unemployment payment, call-centre agent here

I was laid off as a call-centre agent and filed right away, and I have been certifying every week. There are 8 people counting on me, so I am trying to be careful. The page shows my claim as open but no payment date. Has anyone been through this? How long did it take in the end?

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.