Wildfire Recovery Compensation Fact vs. Fiction

So, what’s fact vs. fiction?

Fiction: Waiting for litigation will lead to better outcomes.

Fact: Choosing to wait for litigation means waiting longer for financial support, without any guarantee of more money in your pocket.

• January 2027 is currently the earliest scheduled court date tied to Eaton Fire litigation — and that date doesn’t mean a resolution, even for the very few people who will be involved in the first trial.
• Litigation is uncertain and can take years for a settlement to be reached. The Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program is designed to provide fair resolutions, faster.
• Submitting a claim allows you to review and decide whether an offer meets your needs — without any obligation to accept it.

Fiction: The program pays pennies on the dollar.

Fact: The program is designed to offer payments similar to settlement payments for similar claims in past wildfire lawsuits — with a more streamlined path than litigation.

• Offers include money for property damage, business interruption, physical injury and personal impacts. Participants also receive an additional sum — a Direct Claim Premium — for participating in the program and money for legal expenses if represented by counsel.
• As of mid-April, the program has offered nearly $470 million in relief to more than 3,200 claimants, with individual offers ranging from $20,000 for a tenant with smoke, soot or ash damage to $15.1 million for a claimant with multiple properties. Nothing has been paid to people not in SCE’s program.

Fiction: I shouldn’t have to sign a settlement agreement to receive compensation.

Fact: Whether settlement is reached through litigation or through SCE’s claims process, everyone must agree to resolve disputed claims through a signed agreement.

• The agreement includes, among other terms, the amount to be paid and a release of claims, allowing everyone to avoid the uncertainty, time and expense of continued legal proceedings.
• Through the Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program, this resolution — and compensation — can come much sooner.

Fiction: I can’t get compensated if I received other financial assistance.

Fact: Receiving insurance or other assistance does not disqualify someone from participating in the program.

• If you did have coverage, the insurance amount is deducted from SCE’s offer. If you didn't have coverage, there is no deduction. Any other assistance, like FEMA grants, do not reduce an offer.

Fiction: Renters (or undocumented residents) aren’t eligible for the program.

Fact: Eligibility for the program extends beyond homeowners.

• Renters may qualify for compensation related to personal property and other eligible losses. Undocumented residents are also eligible; they just need to verify their identity with a valid government-issued identification from any country. A Social Security number is not required.

Fiction: Not hearing back means something is wrong.

Fact: If you don't hear back, it does not necessarily mean something is wrong.

• SCE's email responses may be sitting in your spam or junk folder. Make sure your contact information is up-to-date and don’t hesitate to reach out to live representatives at 1-888-912-8528 to get status updates.