SAN FRANCISCO – State Compensation Insurance Fund announced today that it will extend credit to policyholders who have suffered a financial loss or business disruption caused by the hundreds of wildfires burning throughout California. Most fires sparked by lightning, in one of the driest springs on record, have burned some 416,272 acres, destroying 29 structures and threatening 8,638 more. President George Bush decl ared a state of emergency for California, prompting federal aid. State, local and federal firefighters continue to battle the wildfires.
“From reports we know that most of the wildfires are concentrated in Northern California and the Sierra,” said State Fund President Jan Frank. “This region is very spread out and is home to State Fund policyholders who have had established businesses for years. We recognized that the fires caused a significant disruption and hardships for some of our policyholders. Our offer of credit relief is one way to help our policyholders and their businesses return to normal operations.”
Dedicated customer service lines have been set up to provide assistance to policyholders. State Fund will work with employers who were unable to report payroll figures or submit payments or have been cancelled for credit reasons related to the wildfires. Policyholders are encouraged to contact State Fund’s Customer Service Center at (800) 388-0902 to make arrangements. State Fund representatives will review accounts and may grant a 30-day credit extension, a 3-month payment plan or, if necessary, withdraw cancellation and reinstate the policy. This program will be offered to employers through a series of newspapers announcements and mailings to all State Fund policyholders in the affected area.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Headquartered in San Francisco, State Compensation Insurance Fund is California’s largest provider of workers’ compensation insurance with approximately 200,000 policyholders. Established by the Legislature in 1914, State Fund is a nonprofit, self-supporting, fairly competitive public enterprise that serves a dual role as both a market of choice and the safety net for Californian employers seeking workers’ compensation insurance.
