Waiting 25 weeks on my first unemployment payment - any advice?

I was laid off as an event coordinator and filed right away, and I have been certifying every week. 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.