Does severance delay my unemployment claim?, machine operator here

My employer is paying severance in instalments and I am not sure whether to file now. It has been weighing on me all week. I have a mortgage and need to plan. Did you file straight away?

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.