Waht is my status while my application Pending?

Hi guys, Hope you all well,

I have a query about lawful continues residency in the UK, Basiaclly we returned to the uk under surinder singh route and to obatian an eu residence card, took a bit longer than year,
(Applied in March 2016 and Accepted in the court in 2017 Nov)

The question is what are our residential status while our application was pending? because we have been classified that the stay was not lawful until we receive the RC.

I appreciate any advice on this.

Thank you

Regards