It was 7 months between my application and the first check.
I too was about 7 months. I applied 3 months out per their instructions. Got a letter in a few weeks that all was accepted. So I started watching my bank account. No check. Next month, no check.And so on
So what happened? "Well, we are on a payment cycle and your approval just missed the first cut off so you will start the next cycle two months from now"
The checks have been steady once they got started. Obama even gave me a "raise" just before the election too. Not enough to make me vote for the bast^rd though