Does severance delay my unemployment claim? - any advice?

I was offered severance of 17 weeks after being let go as a school bus driver and I am unsure how it affects benefits. It has been a long 2 weeks. I have a mortgage and need to plan. 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.

Before signing, I asked a friend who is a lawyer to look at the agreement. It was a short conversation and worth it.