Got severance, how does it affect benefits? - 5 months and counting

My employer is paying severance in instalments and I am not sure whether to file now. There are 10 people counting on me, so I am trying to be careful. The agreement mentions a release and a payment schedule. Who should I ask before signing?

Some states only count certain kinds of severance. A local workforce centre could tell me which.

Thanks for writing this out. I went through something close to it last year, and it got easier once I kept a simple log of every call and form.