Immediate Financial Aid for IATSE Members
TAG members affected by the fires can apply for Catastrophic Relief from the Walsh, Di-Tolla, Spivak (WDS) Foundation. This aid is available to Active Members in Good Standing. If you lost your home, you do not need to provide receipts to apply for $3,000 in direct financial aid. If you are evacuated/displaced, please provide receipts for reimbursement. Apply for aid here. You can email your application form directly to Alexi Drosu at alexi.drosu@tag839.org.
The LA Fed Disaster Resources
The LA Fed can assist with housing, food, and more to qualified union members. Among their resources is first and last month’s rent. Fill out the intake form here. When applying, your union contact is Steve Kaplan, Business Representative, 818-845-7500, steve.kaplan@tag839.org.
Entertainment Community Fund
For those affected by the wildfires, emergency financial assistance is available for people who are unable to pay their immediate basic living expenses such as housing, food, utility bills or health care. Learn more and apply here. Note: Your union card is required to apply. You can get a scanned or snail mail copy of your card by emailing TAG’s Member Operations Manager Leah Semiken at leah.semiken@tag839.org.
Motion Picture & Television Fund
MPTF is currently providing services including financial assistance, supportive counseling, and assistance navigating insurance needs. Their team can help navigate the county, state, and federal resources available to victims of the fire, as well as Red Cross and other resources. For assistance call 323-634-3888 (under 65) or 323-634-3866 (over 65).
Union Plus Disaster Relief
Union Plus offers disaster relief to union members who participate in certain Union Plus programs. Find more information about their disaster relief grants and eligibility here. There are also other useful benefits, including a job loss grant, if you’ve been laid off, financial counseling, medical bill negotiation, and more. Find more information here.
MPIPHP
The Motion Picture Industry Pension and Health plan is offering assistance with lost or broken glasses, refills of lost medication, replacement paperwork, and more. Learn more here. You can also go to the MPI website, click on the “Assistance” tab, and select “Latest Updates” to check on the most up-to-date assistance.
Free Legal Counseling
If you need to speak with a lawyer, as a union member, you are eligible for 30 minutes of free legal advice from Union Plus and 30 minutes of free legal advice through MPI from Optum Live and Work Well. For Optum, log in or create an account. Choose Emotional Well Being, and then Benefits, and then Legal. Note that Legal is not the same as Legal Forms.
IATSE Resource List
This list compiled by IATSE contains resources for housing, mental health, parenting guidance during a disaster, and more.