In California, severance pay when it is paid as regular payroll is NOT considered wages when applying for unemployment in California. There is a line on the unemployment certification form that asked if you received severance. Should you answer yes or no to that question. I assume if you answer yes, it will not stop unemployment payments.
under California law, severance pay is not considered wages for unemployment purposes. ... Even if it is paid out in installments, as yours will be, it doesn't count against your unemployment. To count as severance pay under California law, your severance must be paid out pursuant to an employer policy or plan.