Why does it take so long to process my jobseekers allowance payment?

i got paid off from my work on the 5th Nov & claimed JSA on the 9th Nov for me & my wife and 2 kids under 5, so my 1st signing on date was 16th Nov then every 2 weeks on a tuesday, but the centre was shut due to bad weather(snow) so i couldn't sign on, this was the 30th Nov so my 1st payment should have been in the bank on the 3rd dec but it wasn't, so i phoned them & they said it hadn't been paid bcos i never signed on?? which i then explained i couldn't & they agreed and said they would process the payment that day and it would be in the bank by 5 pm, it is now monday and i still have no money so i phoned them again and they said it will definitely be in today and when i tried to explain the situation of no money and having kids to feed she abruptly cut me off and hung up on me and i wasn't even shouting or swearing?? i'm so mad right now and can't find help anywhere, any answers would be appreciated, thanks