Does severance delay my unemployment claim? - 7 months and counting

I was offered severance of 8 weeks after being let go as a graphic designer and I am unsure how it affects benefits. Any experience at all would help. I also wonder about the job-search requirement. Did you file straight away?

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.