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

I was offered severance of 18 weeks after being let go as a paralegal and I am unsure how it affects benefits. Any experience at all would help. The agreement mentions a release and a payment schedule. How did your state treat it?

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

Rules differ by state. I called the claims line and asked directly, then wrote down the answer and the date.