Does severance delay my unemployment claim? - 3 months and counting

I was offered severance of 17 weeks after being let go as an administrative assistant and I am unsure how it affects benefits. I am in Charlotte, in case local advice matters. I have a mortgage and need to plan. How did your state treat it?

Thanks for writing this out. I went through something close to it 3 months ago, and it got easier once I kept a simple log of every call and form.