Severance and unemployment, do they overlap? - what worked for you?

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

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

Keep everything in writing and save the confirmation numbers. It saved me later.