Residuals Claims Connects with You

The SAG-AFTRA Residuals Claims Department is one of the union’s most knowledgeable teams. Comprised of 14 diligent individuals, the department’s responsibility is to provide assistance to members, producers, distributors, payroll houses, agents, managers and attorneys who have questions regarding how residuals are paid for all theatrical, television and new media programs. When necessary, members of the staff file claims on behalf of performers when residuals appear to be owed. Unlike other contract departments, the Residuals Claims team must be experts in essentially every theatrical contract since the 1960s and every television agreement since the 1950s.

Oftentimes, residuals linked to the continued exhibition of union projects are the “long tail” of income for performers and their heirs. Examples include theatrical projects shown outside of theaters, television shows rerunning or new media programs that are exhibited on multiple new media platforms or that are picked up by traditional outlets. The Residuals Claims team ensures residuals are properly paid — a crucial function, given that more and more projects are being distributed beyond what was covered by initial compensation.

Additionally, Residuals Claims participates in negotiations and works closely with several contract, legal and financial departments, including the Residuals Processing, Trust & Estates Department.

Having two residuals departments can sometimes be confusing, so the easiest way to remember who handles what is to think of Residuals Processing, Trust & Estates as handling residuals that have already been paid. The department manages the members’ mailing information and facilitates getting payments received by the union into the hands of performers or their heirs. Residuals Claims, on the other hand, answers questions about when and how residuals are calculated, due and paid, and is responsible for pursuing money owed to performers for exhibition on television and newer platforms.

RESIDUALS CLAIMS DEPARTMENT CONTACT INFORMATION:
(323) 549-6507  /  residualsmail@sagaftra.org