yeah I'm not sure how it works in the US if you take the severance you forfeit unemployment but with the way the tech sector currently is I would be in favor of taking the unemployment instead because god damn is it rough out there.
Also not to knock Oracle employees but that place doesn't have the most glowing reputation for "quality". that right there might hinder their job search. Unless they go to Amazon. they'll just hire anyone with a pulse as long as you agree to working on call.