Does severance delay my unemployment claim?

My employer is paying severance in instalments and I am not sure whether to file now. I have been trying to stay organised about it. 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.