Waiting 24 weeks on my first unemployment payment - 12 months and counting

I applied for unemployment in Buffalo 24 weeks ago and the status page still says pending. The page shows my claim as open but no payment date. What would you check first?

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

Check the messages section of your claim, not just the dashboard. That is where my request for more information was hiding.