Does severance delay my unemployment claim? - 12 months and counting

I was offered severance of 12 weeks after being let go as a paralegal and I am unsure how it affects benefits. It has been a long 5 weeks. The agreement mentions a release and a payment schedule. Who should I ask before signing?

Before signing, I asked a friend who is a lawyer to look at the agreement. It was a short conversation and worth it.

Rules differ by state. I called the claims line and asked directly, then wrote down the answer and the date.