Motion Picture Industry Pension & Health (MPI) Plans Wildfire Relief
MPI announced benefits designed to provide relief to eligible Participants who suffered a loss from the recent wildfires. These benefits include:

• Individual Account Plan hardship withdrawal
• Waiver of health benefit premiums
• Emotional support resources, glasses replacement, early refills of medications and more

Go here to learn more about eligibility and benefit details. You can also go to the MPI website, click on the “Disaster Assistance” tab, and select one of the topics in the dropdown menu to check on the most up-to-date assistance.

Hardship Withdrawals

As noted above, MPI is offering a special one-time early withdrawal of an elected amount up to 20% of your 2023 IAP balance (less any IAP hardship withdrawal taken in 2024), not to exceed a maximum dollar amount of $22,000. The deadline for this withdrawal is July 5, 2025. In addition, TAG members with a 401(k) plan through Vanguard can also take a hardship withdrawal. The Vanguard withdrawal does not yet have a deadline. Please note that you can withdraw from both MPI and Vanguard (based on eligibility), but the total amount cannot exceed $22,000. To begin the hardship withdrawal process from Vanguard, 800-523-1188.

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. 

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.