Got severance, how does it affect benefits? after 7 years as a forklift operator

My employer is paying severance in instalments and I am not sure whether to file now. I am in Fresno, in case local advice matters. I have a mortgage and need to plan. Who should I ask before signing?

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

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