Waiting 25 weeks on my first unemployment payment after 6 years as a call-centre agent

I applied for unemployment in Charlotte 25 weeks ago and the status page still says pending. I am in Charlotte, in case local advice matters. I called the state line four times and only reached a recording. Has anyone been through this? How long did it take in the end?

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