Benefits Resources for State Employees Affected by Wildfires

This page provides updated benefits information and resources for state employees and their family members affected by the recent wildfires in California. You may be eligible for one or more of the benefits listed below. The information is organized by benefit type and vendor to help you find what you need quickly. Please bookmark this page and check back often for updates as new details become available. If you have questions or need assistance, contact your departmental personnel office or use the contact information provided below.

Leave Benefits

Administrative Time Off (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.

Benefit Resources by Vendor

Health Benefits

CalPERS

Customer service: 

Call 888 CalPERS (or 888-225-7377) or log in to myCalPERS.

Additional resources:

Dental Benefits

Delta Dental

Customer service:

Call (800) 422-4234 or visit the Delta Dental website.

Emergency services:

If the wildfires have created special challenges for you, call Delta Dental customer service for help.

Finding a provider:

Visit the Delta Dental website to find a dentist near you. If you can’t find a dentist due to the emergency, call customer service for assistance.

Claims and reimbursements:

If you have been displaced from your home and need to update your address, contact your departmental personnel office.

For questions about claims or reimbursements, call Delta Dental customer service.

Western Dental

Customer service:

Call (866) 859-7525 or visit the Western Dental website.

Premier Access

Customer service:

Call (888) 534-DHMO (888-534-3466) or Premier Access Dental Plan website

Finding a provider:

If you’ve been displaced from your home or can’t access an in-network provider because of the State of Emergency, Premier Access will let you see an out-of-network provider.

Claims and reimbursements:

If you’ve been displaced, report a forwarding address at your nearest post office.

Premier Access will extend grace periods for premium payments and claim filing deadlines as needed.

MetLife (Dental)

Customer service:

Call (800) 880-1800 or visit the MetLife website.

For questions related to the emergency, you can also call (800) 275-4638.

Finding a provider:

If you’ve been displaced or can’t find an in-network provider due to the State of Emergency, MetLife will let you see an appropriate out-of-network provider.

Claims and reimbursements:

If you’ve been impacted by the emergency, MetLife will extend filing deadlines for claims to accommodate your specific needs.

CAHP (Dental)

Customer service:

Call (800) 734-2247 or Anthem Dental Customer Service at (844) 729-1565 or visit the CAHP website.

Finding a provider:

If you’re a new enrollee as of Jan. 1, 2025, and haven’t chosen a provider yet, call Anthem at (844) 729-1565 or CAHP at (800) 734-2247 for help.

Claims and reimbursements:

Mail reimbursement requests to the CAHP office, and they will work to process them for you.

If you or your provider need more time to file claims, call (833) 285-4030 to request an extension.

Vision Benefits

VSP

Customer service:

Call (800) 400-4569 or visit the VSP website.

Emergency services:

If you’ve lost or broken your eyewear due to the Southern California fires, call the VSP Member Services Support Line at (800) 400-4569. VSP will reinstate your benefits regardless of eligibility.

If you don’t have VSP coverage, contact your local American Red Cross chapter or shelter, or call (800) RED-CROSS (800-733-2767). They may help with replacement eyewear through VSP Eyes of Hope gift certificates or other solutions.

Finding a provider:

If you’re having trouble finding a network provider, call VSP Customer Service at (800) 400-4569 for help.

If a network provider isn’t available, VSP will let you use an appropriate out-of-network provider.

Claims and reimbursements:

If you’ve been displaced, contact VSP Member Services to update your address so they can resend any checks.

Additional resources:

Life Insurance

MetLife (Life)

Customer service:

Call (800) 252-8524 or visit the MetLife website.

Emergency services:

MetLife’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and Grief Counseling vendor, TELUS Health, offers emotional support and referrals to community resources. If you or your family members are impacted by the California wildfires, call the TELUS Health 24/7 crisis hotline at (877) 757-7587. You’ll receive professional support or be referred to community resources. Visit the TELUS Health Crisis Response website for more information.

Claims and reimbursements:

If you or your dependents have been displaced and are receiving benefits checks (e.g., claims, reimbursements), call (800) 252-8524 for assistance.

For claim deadline extensions, call (800) 252-8524.

Legal Insurance

ARAG

Customer service:

For active employees, call (866) 762-0972 or visit the ARAG Legal employees website.

For retirees, call (800) 511-4007 or visit the ARAG Legal retirees website.

Emergency services:

If you have questions about your property insurance coverage, ARAG’s legal insurance includes access to Immediate Advice Attorneys. These attorneys can help you with your legal needs.

To speak with an attorney, call customer service.

Additional resources:

Long-Term Disability (LTD)

The Standard

Customer service:

Call (888) 641-7193 or visit The Standard website.

Emergency services:

If you’ve been impacted by the California wildfires, call the Crisis Line through Health Advocate at (866) 799-2921 for support.

Claims and reimbursements:

If you have an active claim for Short-Term Disability (STD) or Long-Term Disability (LTD) and want to receive benefits via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) instead of a paper check, contact your regular claims representative at The Standard.

If you don’t have the contact information for your claims representative, call (888) 937-4783.

FlexElect Reimbursements and Pre-Tax Parking

ASI

Customer service:

Call (800) 659-3035 or visit the ASI Flex website.

Claims and reimbursements:

If you’re receiving benefits checks (such as claims or reimbursements), ASI strongly recommends setting up direct deposit. Call the ASI customer service line at (800) 659-3035 for more details.

You are still required to provide receipts for reimbursements, as per IRS regulations.

The deadline to submit 2024 claims is June 30, 2025.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Magellan

Customer service:

Call (866) EAP-4SOC (1-866-327-4762) TTY: 711 to speak with a Customer Experience Associate, or visit the EAP website.

Emergency services:

Magellan offers free, confidential consulting services to help individuals cope with the emotional effects of natural disasters, such as fear, sadness, anger, and hopelessness.

The 24-hour crisis line is available at (800) 327-7451 for anyone impacted by the California wildfires, including extended family, neighbors, and friends.

Magellan can also provide referrals to local non-profits, shelters, and other community resources.

State employees can find more fire-related resources on the EAP website.

Additional resources:

Wellness Program

Healthier U Connections

Additional resources:

Workers’ Compensation

State Fund

Customer service:

Continue working with your departmental workers’ compensation staff.

Voluntary Retirement Savings

Savings Plus

Customer service:

For information for employees impacted by natural disasters or other unforeseeable emergencies, visit the Savings Plus Natural Disaster Options page.

Emergency services:

If you have a Savin​gs Plus supplemental retirement savings account, you may be eligible to withdraw money from your account under certain circumstances, even if you are still working. Visit the Savin​gs Plus website to learn more about available options. Certain taxes and penalties may apply.

Additional Resources

Stay Updated

This page is updated on an ongoing basis as new information becomes available. Bookmark and check back often for the latest updates.

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