Does severance delay my unemployment claim? - 26 weeks in

I was offered severance of 15 weeks after being let go as a welding apprentice and I am unsure how it affects benefits. I also wonder about the job-search requirement. Who should I ask before signing?

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

Some states only count certain kinds of severance. A local workforce centre could tell me which.