Does severance delay my unemployment claim? (Raleigh)

I was offered severance of 18 weeks after being let go as a sales associate and I am unsure how it affects benefits. 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.