Can my employer choose to simply not pay me for earned wages?

So, I was just informed today (May 3rd, 2016) that my employer cant pay me my paycheck that I was supposed to be paid on May 1st, 2016. We sell insurance, and he received a charge from one of our insurance carriers instead of money. I have a family to support but don't want to be out of a job. I receive two checks a month, the one on the first is my base pay, $1,000. the one on the fifteenth is my commission pay. So regardless of what one of our carriers paid him, should I not still be entitled to my base pay? This is not the first time he has had to delay a paycheck, and I'm not the only one he has to delay pay for. I have already started looking for another job, one that is more stable, but in the meantime, i still have bills due and a family to support. Can I file for unemployment since he is unable to pay me? Please help, I have bills due and times are tight.