Wildfire Resources

Resources for State Employees Impacted by Recent Fires

If you or a family member are impacted by the fires in California, you may be eligible to receive one or more of the following benefits. For more information about how to request these benefits, please contact your department Personnel Office or the contact information below.

Administrative Time Of (ATO)

ATO is a form of paid leave and may be granted when employees need time off. To be eligible, employees must live in the County impacted by the State of Emergency and meet at least one of the criteria listed in the California Code of Regulations, title 2, section 599.785.5.

Leave of Absence (LOA)

LOA is an unpaid leave that may last up to one year. This leave allows employees to take time of work with a mandatory right of return when the leave ends.

Catastrophic Leave — Natural Disasters

The Catastrophic Leave program allows employees who have exhausted their leave credits and must miss work due to a prolonged illness or injury (including that of an eligible family member), or due to a natural disaster, to request catastrophic leave.

Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)/California Family Rights Act (CFRA)

The FMLA/CFRA entitles eligible employees to take up to 12 workweeks of unpaid, job-protected leave in a calendar year and the continuation of health benefits for specified family and medical leave reasons.

State Disability Insurance (SDI)/Paid Family Leave (PFL) & Non-Industrial Disability Insurance (NDI)

The SDI and NDI programs provide partial wage replacement for eligible state employees who have been certified for a non-work related illness or injury. Employees represented by an SEIU bargaining unit are covered by SDI/PFL and all other employees* are covered by NDI. The PFL program provides benefits to eligible employees who need to take time off to care for a qualified family member.
*If you are an excluded employee who is enrolled in the Long Term Disability Insurance Program, you may be eligible for benefits if your disability lasts longer than six months.

Magellan Wildfire Resources

Magellan provides free, confidential consultation services and other resources, such as referrals to local non-profit organizations, shelters, and additional community-based support to assist individuals in California as they work to cope with the feelings of fear, sadness, anger, and hopelessness related to these kinds of natural disasters. The toll-free number, for public at large, to access free, confidential counseling services is 1-800-327-7451. State employees can find information on fire resources on the EAP website.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

The EAP is available 24/7 and provides free confidential counseling services and other resources, such as referrals to local non-profit organizations, shelters, and additional community-based support.
1-866-EAP-4SOC or (1-866-327-4762) TTY (800) 424-6117

Group Legal Services Insurance (Plan)

Legal resources to help you and your employees recover after the California wildfires.
Enrolled employees can contact ARAG Insurance Company (Access Cidem 10292soc) at 866-762-0972 for information on legal assistance. Employees may also read these six tips for dealing with a disaster.

VSP Vision Care

A VSP member who has lost or broken their eyewear or is in need of eye care services due to the wildfires can call the Member Services Support Line at (800) 877-7195. VSP network doctors can call VSP at (800) 615-1883 to learn about the resources available to them. Individuals without VSP coverage can contact their local American Red Cross, or call (800) RED-CROSS (733-2767) and request a VSP Global Eyes of Hope gift certificate.

Savings Plus Accounts (401k/457b)

If you have a Savings Plus supplemental retirement savings account, you may be eligible to withdraw money from your account under certain circumstances, even while still working. Visit the Savings Plus website to see what options may be available. Certain taxes and penalties may apply.

Additional Resources

Updated: 6/22/2022

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