Does severance delay my unemployment claim?

My employer is paying severance in instalments and I am not sure whether to file now. I am in Raleigh, in case local advice matters. I also wonder about the job-search requirement. Did you file straight away?

I filed on day one anyway and reported the severance honestly. The agency decided what to do about the timing.

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