Severance and unemployment, do they overlap? - 7 months and counting

I was offered severance of 18 weeks after being let go as an HR coordinator and I am unsure how it affects benefits. The agreement mentions a release and a payment schedule.

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.