Waiting 24 weeks on my first unemployment payment (update)

I filed my claim 24 weeks ago after being let go as a social media manager. The page shows my claim as open but no payment date. 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.