California State Disability Insurance pays between $50 and $1,316 per week, depending on your recent earnings history

State Disability Insurance (SDI) in California replaces a portion of your wages while you cannot work due to a non-work-related illness or injury. The amount you receive is calculated from your earnings in a specific 12-month period before your claim begins, not from a fixed schedule. Most people receive somewhere between 50% and 66% of their average weekly wage, capped at the maximum weekly rate set by the state each year.

The state adjusts the maximum benefit amount every January. As of 2024, the maximum weekly benefit is $1,316, but this figure changes annually. If you earned very little before your disability began, you may receive the minimum of $50 per week. The actual amount depends entirely on what you reported to your employer and what your employer reported to the state through payroll taxes.

SDI is not the same as Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). SDI is a state program funded by employee payroll deductions; SSDI is a federal program. You may receive both, but they operate under completely different rules, and the amounts do not automatically coordinate.

Key Takeaways

  • Your weekly SDI payment is based on your earnings during a 12-month "base period" before your claim starts, not on how severe your condition is.
  • The state pays between $50 and $1,316 per week (as of 2024), with the maximum amount increasing each January.
  • SDI replaces roughly half to two-thirds of your lost wages, meaning you will likely receive less than you earned before disability.
  • You must have worked and paid SDI taxes (deducted from your paycheck) to receive benefits; self-employed people do not pay into SDI unless they chose to.
  • SDI payments last up to 52 weeks in a 12-month period for most disabilities, though some conditions like pregnancy have different time limits.

How the State Calculates Your Weekly Benefit

California uses a formula based on your highest quarter of earnings during the base period. The base period is typically the 12 months when ready before you file your claim, but the state looks at your earnings in four three-month quarters and uses the highest one. If you earned $8,000 in your highest quarter, the state divides that by 13 weeks to get your average weekly wage, then pays you a percentage of that amount.

The percentage varies slightly depending on your total base period earnings. Most people receive 60% to 66% of their average weekly wage. However, the state will never pay you more than the maximum weekly rate (currently $1,316) or less than the minimum ($50). If your average weekly wage is very high, you hit the cap. If it is very low, you hit the floor.

You can see your own base period and estimated benefit amount by logging into your SDI account through the California Employment Development Department (EDD) website. The EDD sends you a notice of information when your claim is approved, which shows the exact calculation and the weekly amount you will receive.

What Happens If You Work While Receiving SDI

You can earn money and still receive SDI, but the state reduces your benefit dollar-for-dollar for any earnings above a small threshold. In 2024, you can earn up to $50 per week without any reduction. Anything you earn above $50 reduces your SDI payment by that amount. If you earn $200 in a week and your SDI benefit is $400, you receive $250 that week ($400 minus the $150 over the $50 threshold).

This rule exists to prevent people from receiving full disability payments while working full-time. However, it also means you can do light work or part-time work and still receive most of your benefit. Many people use this to ease back into work gradually while their condition improves.

How Long You Can Receive SDI Payments

Most disabilities are covered for up to 52 weeks within a 12-month period. After 52 weeks of benefits, your claim ends, and you cannot receive SDI again for the same condition unless you return to work for at least eight weeks and earn at least $1,300 during that time. The state then considers you to have a new claim period.

Pregnancy and childbirth have different time limits. You can receive SDI for up to four weeks before your due date and up to six weeks after delivery (or eight weeks for a cesarean section). These weeks count toward your 52-week total, not in addition to it.

If your condition does not improve after 52 weeks, you may be able to transition to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or California's Permanent Disability Insurance (PDI), which is a separate program. However, SDI itself does not extend beyond 52 weeks in a 12-month period.

The Difference Between SDI and SSDI Payments

SDI is temporary and based on recent earnings. SSDI is permanent (or long-term) and based on your lifetime work history and Social Security credits. An SDI payment of $800 per week does not mean you will receive $800 per week from SSDI. SSDI payments are typically lower than SDI because they are designed to replace a smaller portion of lifetime average earnings, not recent earnings.

You can receive both SDI and SSDI at the same time. If you do, SSDI will reduce your payment by the amount you receive from SDI, but only after SSDI has been approved. During the months you wait for SSDI approval, you receive the full SDI amount. Once SSDI begins, the two programs coordinate so you do not receive duplicate payments for the same period of disability.

Many people use SDI as a bridge while their SSDI process is pending. SDI pays faster (usually within two to three weeks of approval) and does not require a medical review as rigorous as SSDI. However, SDI is temporary, so you need a longer-term plan if your disability will last more than a year.

Taxes and Other Deductions From Your SDI Payment

SDI payments are subject to federal income tax. The state does not withhold taxes automatically, so you may owe money when you file your tax return. You can request that the EDD withhold taxes from your payments, which simplifies things at tax time. Contact the EDD to set up withholding if you want it.

SDI payments are not subject to Social Security or Medicare taxes because you are not working. However, if you receive both SDI and SSDI, the SSDI payment may be subject to income tax depending on your total income for the year.

Child support, spousal support, and certain court-ordered judgments can be deducted from your SDI payment. If you owe back taxes, the state may also offset your SDI benefit. The EDD will notify you if any deductions explore to your case.

When Your SDI Benefit Changes

The maximum weekly benefit amount increases every January 1st. If you are still receiving SDI when the new year begins, your payment may increase automatically if the state raises the maximum. However, your individual benefit is locked in when your claim is approved and does not change during the claim period unless you return to work and restart your claim.

If you earn additional income during your claim period, you must report it to the EDD. Unreported earnings can result in overpayment, which the state will ask you to repay. You report earnings by phone, online, or by mail, depending on how the EDD instructs you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I receive SDI if I was self-employed?

Only if you voluntarily elected to pay into SDI as a self-employed person. Most self-employed workers do not pay SDI taxes and therefore cannot receive SDI. You can check your SDI account history through the EDD website to see if you have any SDI credits.

What if I was earning very little when I became disabled?

You will receive the minimum benefit of $50 per week. The state does not increase this amount based on your need or your condition. If $50 per week is not enough, you may be able to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or other state information programs in addition to SDI.

Does SDI count as income for other benefit programs?

Yes. SDI payments count as income for Medi-Cal, CalFresh (food information), and most other means-tested programs. Receiving SDI may reduce or eliminate your may be able to access for these programs. Check with each program separately to understand how SDI affects your benefits.

Can I appeal if I think my benefit amount is wrong?

Yes. You have 20 days from the date of the notice of information to file an appeal with the EDD. You can appeal if you believe the state miscalculated your base period earnings or applied the wrong formula. Bring pay stubs or other proof of your earnings during the base period.

What happens to my SDI if I move out of California?

SDI is a California state program, so you must remain in California to receive it. If you move out of state, your claim ends. If you return to California within a certain time frame, you may be able to restart your claim, but the rules are complex and depend on your specific situation. Contact the EDD before moving.