Severance and unemployment, do they overlap? after 11 years as a copywriter

My employer is paying severance in instalments and I am not sure whether to file now. The agreement mentions a release and a payment schedule. Did you file straight away?

I filed on day one anyway and reported the severance honestly. The agency decided what to do about the timing.

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