Employees in State agencies/departments participating under the master contract agreement and who are appointed permanent full-time or part-time regardless of their bargaining unit designation are eligible for EAP services. Seasonal and limited-term employees and retired annuitants are eligible for EAP services during employment. Please check with your departmental EAP Coordinator to determine if your department is participating under the master contract agreement or has its own internal EAP.
You, your lawful spouse, and your unmarried, dependent children are eligible to receive assistance and counseling services through EAP for as long as you are employed by the State of California. Children are defined as natural, adopted or step-children who are under age 23. Also eligible are children of any age who are incapable of self-sustaining employment due to a mental or physical disability. Dependent children in the military are not eligible. The EAP benefit will be extended to registered domestic partners effective January 1, 2005.
You will not be eligible for EAP if any one of the following event occurs:
- Your employment with the State of California ends (with some exceptions*); or
- Services are used in a fraudulent or deceptive manner.
Once your eligibility ends, you and your family members may not continue coverage on an individual basis. If you have questions about your coverage or eligibility or need specific information on the exceptions, please contact your departmental EAP Coordinator.
Survivor Benefits
Survivor benefits include:
- Surviving family members of employees who had Level 1 benefits, and family members of CHP employees who had Level 2 benefits may use EAP services for six months after the death of an employee.
- Eligibility for EAP services for surviving family members of all other employees' stops at the end of the month the death occurred.
* Excluded employees and those in Bargaining Units 1, 3, 4, 11, 15, 20 and 21 are allowed to receive a six-month extension to their EAP benefit following layoff from State Service. The extension is for time only and not an increase in benefits or visits.
