Waiting 24 weeks on my first unemployment payment - 13 months and counting

I filed my claim 24 weeks ago after being let go as a mechanic. I would rather hear the honest version than the polite one. The page shows my claim as open but no payment date. Has anyone been through this? How long did it take in the end?

When I finally got through, the agent said my employer had responded late. Once that cleared, back pay came in one payment.