California State Disability Insurance

California State Disability Insurance

California State Disability Insurance (SDI) is a partial wage-replacement insurance plan for California workers. The SDI program is State-mandated, and funded through employee payroll deductions. SDI provides affordable, short-term benefits to eligible workers who suffer a loss of wages when they are unable to work due to a NON WORK-RELATED illness or injury, or a medically disabling condition from pregnancy or childbirth.

About the DI Program

Claim Filing & Processing

Current SDI Contribution Rate

DI Benefit Amounts

Disability Defined

Forms and Publications

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Office Locations

Paid Family Leave Program

Requesting a Claim Form

Toll-free and TTY/TDD Numbers

Using the Automated Telephone Information System

Frequently Asked Questions

1) What is the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program?

2) Who Pays for State Disability Insurance (SDI)?

3) Do all employers participate in the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program?

4) By what other names is the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program known?

5) Are State Disability Insurance (SDI) programs available and the same in the rest of the country?

6) Who is eligible for the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program?

7) Does State Disability Insurance (SDI) come with any health coverage?

8) How is the State Disability Insurance (SDI) benefit calculated?

9) How is a base period determined?

10) How long does the State Disability Insurance (SDI) benefit last?

11) What are the medical eligibility requirements for the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program?

12) Does what I have in the bank or what I own, such as a home or car, affect my eligibility for the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program?


	“How do my assets affect my eligibility?”

13) What should I do ahead of time if I know I may be eligible or may need to apply for the SDI program?

14) How do I apply for State Disability Insurance (SDI)?

15) How soon after applying will I be eligible for benefits from the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program?

16) What happens if I became disabled after recently enrolling as self employed individual and just started paying into elective coverage, but worked for a California employer before?

17) What other benefit programs are available to me and how will they work with State Disability Insurance (SDI)?

18) What is the difference between State Disability Insurance (SDI) and Social Security disability programs?

19) Can I qualify for the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program while I am eligible for either Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)?


	“I'm on SSDI. Can I be eligible for SDI too?”

20) How do I stay enrolled/eligible in the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program? How often do I have to reapply?

21) Are there rules for immigrants to qualify for the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program?

22) Will State Disability Insurance (SDI) provide me with income if I am currently still working and need to reduce my work hours because of my disability?

23) Is the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program a taxable benefit?

24) Can I receive both unemployment and State Disability Insurance (SDI) benefits?

25) Does the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program cover disabilities that last for less than one year?

26) What happens when I work while receiving benefits from the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program?

27) What else should I know?

1) What is the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program?
The State of California administers the State Disability Insurance, commonly referred to as SDI. This is a public disability insurance program that pays a weekly benefit every other week. The State of California has administered this benefit since 1946.

2) Who Pays for State Disability Insurance (SDI)?
Through payroll taxes, employees pay State Disability Insurance premiums. Self-employed persons may participate by enrolling in elective coverage and pay premiums based on IRS quarterly reporting.

3) Do all employers participate in the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program?

No. Employees of the federal government and some state government workers are not eligible to participate in State Disability Insurance (SDI). Employers that do not participate in SDI program are required to participate in a voluntary plan through an insurance carrier or a self-insured plan. To qualify, the plan must be superior to the coverage offered through SDI but not cost more than SDI for the employee.

4) By what other names is the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program known?
The acronym used by the State Disability Insurance program is SDI although others may use DI. State Disability may be referred to as short term disability too which can cause misunderstandings. Short term disability refers to private disability insurance that can be offered from an employer or purchased by individuals.

5) Are State Disability Insurance (SDI) programs available and the same in the rest of the country?
No. There are only five states that provide state disability programs, California, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Each state or Commonwealth governs how its program is structured.

6) Who is eligible for the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program?

To be eligible, you must have paid into the State Disability Insurance fund with a payroll deduction through a California employer. If you are self-employed you may participate by paying into what is called elective coverage. Federal and some state government employees are not eligible to participate in State Disability Insurance. To be eligible to receive the full 52-week benefit (39 for self-employment), you must have paid into the State Disability Insurance fund for a minimum of 18 months. Individuals who have paid into State Disability Insurance for more than 6 months and less than 18 months may be eligible to receive benefits for shorter periods of time.

7) Does State Disability Insurance (SDI) come with any health coverage?
No. State Disability Insurance only provides wage replacement income for disability reasons, not health coverage.

8) How is the State Disability Insurance (SDI) benefit calculated?

You must have worked and paid into State Disability Insurance during a period of time in the past called the “benefit base period.” Payments are based on a look back of your wages during the 15 to 18 months prior to the start of disability. Not taking into account the most recent 3 to 6 months of income looking back, the next 12 months are considered your base period. The quarter of this 12-month base period with the highest wages is used to determine the weekly benefit amount.

Look back from the onset of disability to the beginning of the fifth prior calendar quarter to find the start of the 12-month 'base period'.

9) How is a base period determined?

As of January 1, 2004, the base periods are determined as follows:

Claims beginning in the months of January, February, or March of 2004:
The base period is the 12 months from October 1, 2002 to September 30, 2003.

Claims beginning in the months of April, May, or June of 2004:
The base period is the 12 months from January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2003.

Claims beginning in the months of July, August, or September of 2004:
The base period is the 12 months from April 1, 2003 to March 31, 2004.

Claims beginning in the months of October, November, or December of 2004:
The base period is the 12 months from July 1, 2003 to June 30, 2004.

10) How long does the State Disability Insurance (SDI) benefit last?
Your eligibility for a benefit period is dependent on your medical provider’s statement of how long the disability is expected to last. Your medical provider may extend this period up to the program maximum. Normally, the maximum benefit period is 52 weeks (or 39 weeks elective coverage for self employed), paid every other week.

11) What are the medical eligibility requirements for the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program?
Medical eligibility is for any illness or injury, either physical or mental, that prevents an individual from doing his or her usual or customary work. This definition also includes disabilities resulting from elective surgery, pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition.

12) Does what I have in the bank or what I own, such as a home or car, affect my eligibility for the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program?
No. There are no limits on what you own or have in the bank for this program. SDI is an insurance program based on premiums paid through an employer or individually through self-employment elective coverage.

13) What should I do ahead of time if I know I may be eligible or may need to apply for the SDI program?
You should discuss this planning question and your needs with your medical provider before applying. You may also consider discussing this with a community based benefits planner at an independent living center, mental health advocate group, or HIV/AIDS service organization.

14) How do I apply for State Disability Insurance (SDI)?
Applications are available from most medical providers offices, the State Disability Insurance office, or the Employment Development Department (EDD). Both application and processing of State Disability Insurance claims are sent by mail.

15) How soon after applying will I be eligible for benefits from the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program?
There is a seven day waiting period for all disabilities before benefits are paid. Benefits are issued from the eight day forward. The SDI processes applications normally within 14 days from the date of receipt.

16) What happens if I became disabled after recently enrolling as self employed individual and just started paying into elective coverage, but worked for a California employer before?

There is usually a minimum of seven months from the effective date of elective coverage before your eligibility can be based on your elective coverage contributions. However, if you worked as an employee in California (and were paying into State Disability Insurance) prior to your enrolling in elective coverage, you may have wage credits in your base period from that time that may provide you with a valid claim.

17) What other benefit programs are available to me and how will they work with State Disability Insurance (SDI)?

If you are eligible for other private and public benefit programs--such as private short term disability, private long term disability, Social Security Disability Insurance, Supplemental Security Income--these benefit programs usually consider State Disability Insurance when calculating their benefit. The availability of other benefit programs depends on your work history, what an employer provides and any benefits that you may have purchased. Each of these public or private benefits programs will have their own rules for enrollment, medical eligibility and any benefit reduction for State Disability Insurance.

State Disability Insurance considers Workers Compensation when calculating benefits. Employer sick time may reduce or delay the benefit, but may also extend its duration.

18) What is the difference between State Disability Insurance (SDI) and Social Security disability programs?

The State Disability Program is sponsored by California and covers a wide range of disabilities lasting more than seven days. Their medical determination covers individuals that are unable to work in their usual or customary work and who are partially or totally disabled.

Social Security’s disability programs require that the disability be a total disability, which will last for a continuous period of at least 12 months or can be expected to result in death. Social Security requires that a person must not only be unable to do his or her previous work, but also that he or she cannot--considering age, education, and work experience--engage in any other kind of work that exists in the national economy.

19) Can I qualify for the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program while I am eligible for either Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)?
Yes. Eligibility for the Social Security programs will not affect your eligibility for State Disability Insurance. However, your eligibility for State Disability may affect your eligibility or benefit amount from the Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance programs.

20) How do I stay enrolled/eligible in the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program? How often do I have to reapply?

To continue to be eligible for the duration stated by your medical provider, you will need to complete the “Disability Claim Continuing Eligibility Certification” questionnaire that is mailed quarterly. The length of time you will receive SDI is dependent on your medical provider’s statement. If your benefit is not for the full 52 weeks your SDI may be extended by that medical provider up to the program maximum benefit period (36 weeks for elective coverage).

21) Are there rules for immigrants to qualify for the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program?
State Disability does not have a proof of citizenship or immigration status requirement at the time of application.

22) Will State Disability Insurance (SDI) provide me with income if I am currently still working and need to reduce my work hours because of my disability?

Yes. State Disability Insurance will supplement lost income due to disability up to your maximum benefit amount. The total from your wages and the benefit combined cannot exceed your earned income in the benefit base period. In the cases when the State Disability Insurance benefit combined with your wages exceeds your earned income before disability, the State Disability Insurance benefits are reduced, and in some cases may extend your maximum benefit period beyond the 52 weeks (39 weeks “elective coverage”).

23) Is the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program a taxable benefit?
No. Benefits are not taxable, unless the individual was receiving unemployment insurance prior to becoming eligible for State Disability Insurance. In this case, the benefit will be taxed for the remainder of the time that the individual would have received his or her unemployment insurance.

24) Can I receive both unemployment and State Disability Insurance (SDI) benefits?
No. You cannot receive unemployment insurance and State Disability Insurance benefits simultaneously. You should consider unemployment insurance if you are now able to work and looking for work. You should apply for State Disability Insurance if you are unable to work due to a disability.

25) Does the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program cover disabilities that last for less than one year?
Yes. State Disability Insurance will provide benefits from the eighth day forward to the maximum benefit period. The maximum benefit period depends on your medical provider’s statement of how long the disability is expected to last. It is important to share all relevant information about the disabling condition with your medical provider.

26) What happens when I work while receiving benefits from the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program?
Earned income, after receiving benefits, may reduce your benefit amount if the combined total exceeds your wages during the same base period. If there is a reduction of your SDI payment, this reduction may extend the maximum benefit period beyond the 52 weeks (39 weeks elective coverage).

27) What else should I know?
You should file your application in a timely manner, no later than the 49th day after the date your claim states your disability began. If you are beyond the 49th day, a letter stating good cause must be submitted with the application in order to qualify for benefits.