Disaster Emergency Financial Assistance

This application is for those who have been impacted by the California Fires in the following ways:

• Loss of home
• Damage to home
• Extended mandatory evacuation

Disaster Emergency Financial Assistance Application

If you are experiencing a lack of work due to the fires, please complete our general Emergency Financial Assistance application.

Emergency Assistance Funds

Entertainment Community Fund

Eligibility and documentation:

• Documentation of professional entertainment industry earnings within theater, film, television, music, radio and dance for the most recent three consecutive years.
  
  and
  
   
• At least three separate years must document an annual entertainment industry income of a minimum of $10,000.
• For those 60 years and older, documented 20 years of entertainment industry income, with a minimum of 10 years of at least $5,000 in annual earnings.
• For dancers whose primary earnings are from freelance dance, documented income for the most recent six consecutive years and annual earnings of at least $5,000 for three separate years out of the most recent six years.

Required documentation:

• Government issued identification (driver’s license, state ID, passport, work visa)
• Most recent personal checking and savings account statements (PDFs preferred). Screenshots are not allowed. Full statements with transactions are required
• Additional documentation may be required

Additional Documentation Requested

If you do not have access to these documents, please submit your application and our staff will assist you in completing the form. 

• Earned Industry Income (pension and health statements, W2, 1099, paystubs)
• Lease or mortgage and bills for which you are seeking assistance
• If applicable:
  • Union Card or Verification letter
  • Medical, accident or circumstantial documentation

American Guild of Musical Artists Relief Fund

Eligibility and documentation:

• Current members in good standing or on honorary withdrawal. Confirmation of current membership including start and end date. Email membership@musicalartists.org and put ‘Proof of Membership’ in subject line for confirmation letter.
• Most recent checking and savings bank statement, including name, address, transactions and balance totals.
• Bills for which you are seeking assistance including applicant name and address.
• If applicable, documentation of your illness, injury or disability.
• To determine your eligibility for an additional grant through the Entertainment Community Fund, please see criteria listed under the Entertainment Community Fund.

Casting Society Cares

Eligibility and documentation:

• Documentation of financial need.
• Current, active member of Casting Society. A PDF of membership card must be obtained online:
  • Login to www.castingsociety.com → My Account → Billing & Membership → Print Your Membership Card (PDF)
• Most recent checking and savings bank statement, including name, address, transactions and balance totals.
• Most recent Federal Income Tax Return—first two pages only (1040 form).
• Bills for which you are seeking assistance including name and address.
• For international members only: to apply, please email eastern@entertainmentcommunity.org
• To determine eligibility for an additional grant through the Entertainment Community Fund, please see criteria listed under the Entertainment Community Fund.

IATSE Local 600 Hardship Fund 

Traditional Hardship Fund Grant: Provides assistance for members facing work loss due to illness, injury, or man-made or natural disasters.

Eligibility:

• The applicant must have been a member in good standing for at least two continuous years at the onset of the qualifying illness. Verification of membership status is required. To request a letter, email accounting@icg600.com with your name, email, address and phone number.
• The member must have earned at least $25,000 in covered earnings over the past five years.

The member must have experienced verifiable financial hardship due to one of the following:

• An extreme catastrophic injury or illness which prevents that member from performing covered work for at least six months.
• A severe workplace injury while in Local 600 that prevents the member from performing covered work.
• A man-made or natural disaster that prevents the member from performing covered work.

Required Documentation:

• Most recent personal checking and savings bank statements (PDF preferred). Screenshots are not allowed. Full statements with first and last name and transaction history are required.
• Most recent federal income tax return—first two pages only (1040).
• Lease or mortgage documents and any bills for which you seek assistance.
• Government-issued identification (driver’s license, state ID, passport, work visa). 
• Union Verification letter required (as noted above).
• Documentation that confirms the injury or illness (such as physician’s note or workers compensation application, if applicable).
• Documents that confirm FEMA certifications for disaster-related applications.

IATSE Local 700 Hardship Relief Fund

Eligibility

• A current member in good standing for a minimum of two consecutive dues-quarter periods. Verification of membership status must be included in the application. Request a letter by emailing MemberAssistanceFund@editorsguild.com. Please include your name, email address and phone number.
• Documentation of financial need

Required Documentation

• Verification letter of eligibility from Local 700
• Current complete checking, savings and investment bank statements, including name, address, transactions and balance totals.
• Bills for which assistance is requested, including applicant name and address.
• Most recent 1040 form from Federal Income Tax Return
• Housing expense—lease, mortgage/maintenance, including name and address.
• Medical or natural disaster documentation if applicable.
• To determine eligibility for an additional grant through the Entertainment Community Fund, please see the criteria listed under the Entertainment Community Fund.

Producers Guild of America Members Fund

Provides emergency financial assistance to members who lost their homes or had to evacuate and are now indefinitely displaced.

Eligibility

• Current member of the Producers Guild of America
• Loss of home
• Evacuated and now indefinitely displaced

Required Documentation

• Proof of home loss due to fire
• Proof of evacuation
• Verification of membership status to be included in the application. To request a letter email Members@producersguild.org and cc joann@producersguild.org. Please include your name, email address and phone number.
• Government Issued Photo ID

Writers Guild Member Fund

Provides emergency financial assistance to WGA members, Current and Post-Current status, impacted by the Southern California wildfires.

Eligibility

• Loss of home
• Evacuated and now indefinitely displaced
• Evacuated and temporarily displaced

Required Documentation

• Verification of membership status to be included in the application. To request a letter email WildfireGrants@wga.org. Please include your name, email address and phone number
• Government Issued Photo ID

Tips On Making Your Applications Process Easier

All documents need to be digitized and ready to upload before you begin filling out the application. Suggested steps to create a digital file:

• Please use a scanner to digitize your documents into PDF files. Save files on your computer for uploading during the application process.
• If a scanning device is not available and you have a smartphone, you can search the app store for applications that will allow you to turn pictures that you take with your smartphone into PDF files (i.e. Search “Image to PDF” or “PDF maker” in the app store of your device).
  • If you are taking pictures of your documents using your smartphone, please be sure that all information is legible.

To apply, the Fund now requires that you have an account on the Entertainment Community Fund’s Portal.

If you have already created a Fund Client Portal account, please sign in to access and complete the Financial Assistance Application.

If you have previously received services from the Fund, a Fund Portal account has already been created for you. To activate this account, please reset your password and complete your profile. You will then be able to access the Financial Assistance Application.

If you are new to the Fund, please create an account by completing the profile information required in the Client Portal. Once you complete your profile, you will be able to access the Financial Assistance Application.

Apply for disaster emergency financial assistance

Questions? Contact the Western Region Office:

western@entertainmentcommunity.org
323.330.2455