Depends on the phrasing. I've had to sign a (legal contract) "release of claims" to get what's commonly called a "severance package", which legally for unemploy

Depends on the phrasing. I've had to sign a (legal contract) "release of claims" to get what's commonly called a "severance package", which legally for unemployment are separate things. An actual "severance" doesn't require a signature, or so the office told me. IANAL and every state will be different.