California SDI pays between $50 and $1,316 per week, depending on your recent earnings

The amount you receive from California State Disability Insurance (SDI) is based on how much you earned in the year before you became unable to work. The state calculates this from your tax records — specifically, the highest quarter of earnings in that 12-month period. If you earned more, you receive more. If you earned less, the payment is smaller.

The minimum payment is $50 per week. The maximum is $1,316 per week as of 2024, though this figure increases each year. Your actual amount will fall somewhere in that range, and the state sends you the same amount every two weeks unless your circumstances change.

Payment continues for up to 52 weeks if your doctor certifies you cannot work during that time. If you remain unable to work after 52 weeks, you may be able to switch to State Disability Insurance Continuation (SDIC), which extends coverage for an additional 52 weeks, though the rules for this transition are strict.

Key Takeaways

  • Your weekly payment amount depends on your earnings in the 12 months before you stopped working, with the state using your highest quarter to calculate the benefit.
  • The minimum payment is $50 per week and the maximum is $1,316 per week as of 2024, with the maximum increasing annually.
  • You receive the same payment every two weeks for up to 52 weeks if your condition prevents you from working during that entire period.
  • The state calculates your payment from your tax records, so you do not need to provide separate income documentation to determine the amount.

How the state calculates your payment amount

California uses a formula based on your Average Weekly Wage (AWW), which the state pulls directly from your tax records. The state looks at the highest-earning quarter in the 12 months before your disability began, then divides that total by 13 to arrive at your weekly wage. Your SDI payment is then set at roughly 60 to 70 percent of that average weekly wage, depending on your specific earnings level.

You do not submit pay stubs or bank statements to prove your income. The Employment Development Department (EDD) — the state agency that runs SDI — accesses your wage records through the tax system. If you worked for multiple employers during that 12-month period, the state adds all of those earnings together before calculating your average.

If you were self-employed, the calculation works differently. Self-employed workers must have paid into SDI voluntarily, and the state uses your reported net income from your tax return. If you did not pay into SDI as a self-employed person, you are not covered by the program.

What happens if you earn money while receiving SDI

If you return to part-time or reduced work while still receiving SDI, your payment does not stop automatically — but it will be reduced. California allows you to earn up to a certain amount each week without losing any SDI payment. That threshold is roughly 25 percent of your calculated weekly benefit amount, though the exact figure depends on your individual case.

Once you earn above that threshold, the state reduces your SDI payment dollar-for-dollar for every dollar you earn over the limit. For example, if your weekly SDI payment is $600 and you earn $200 in a week, you would lose $100 of that week's payment (the amount you earned above the 25 percent threshold). You must report all earnings to the EDD, even small amounts.

If you return to full-time work or your earnings consistently exceed your SDI payment amount, your claim ends. The state does not automatically know you are working again, so you are responsible for reporting the change.

When your payment starts and how long it lasts

SDI payments do not begin when ready after you stop working. There is a seven-day waiting period from the first day you became unable to work. The state does not pay you for those seven days. After that waiting period, payments begin and arrive every two weeks by direct deposit or debit card.

Your payment continues for up to 52 weeks as long as your doctor certifies that you remain unable to work. The EDD sends you forms to have your doctor complete periodically — usually every 30 days — to confirm your condition has not improved. If your doctor says you can return to work, your payments stop, even if you have not used all 52 weeks.

If you remain unable to work after 52 weeks, you may transition to State Disability Insurance Continuation (SDIC) for an additional 52 weeks. However, SDIC has stricter requirements: your condition must be severe, you must have exhausted regular SDI, and you must still be unable to work. Not all claims may have access to for this extension.

How the maximum payment amount changes each year

The maximum weekly SDI payment increases every January based on changes in California's average weekly wage. In 2023, the maximum was $1,299 per week. In 2024, it rose to $1,316 per week. This annual adjustment means that if you receive the maximum payment, your amount will increase slightly each year you remain on SDI.

The minimum payment of $50 per week does not change. However, if your calculated benefit falls below $50, the state rounds it up to $50. This affects workers with very low recent earnings.

The state publishes the new maximum amount each December for the following year. If you are currently receiving SDI, you do not need to do anything — the EDD automatically adjusts your payment on January 1 if you may have access to for the increase.

Taxes and other deductions from your SDI payment

SDI payments are considered taxable income by the federal government. The state does not automatically withhold federal income tax from your payment, which means you may owe taxes when you file your return. Some people choose to have taxes withheld voluntarily to avoid a large bill at tax time.

If you owe child support, the state may garnish your SDI payment to satisfy that obligation. Similarly, if you owe certain debts to the state of California — such as overpaid unemployment benefits or prior SDI overpayments — the EDD can offset your current payment. You will receive notice if this happens.

No other deductions are taken from SDI payments. You do not pay Social Security tax, Medicare tax, or state income tax on these benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get more money if I have dependents?

No. California SDI does not increase your payment based on whether you have children or other dependents. Your payment is based solely on your own recent earnings. This differs from some other disability programs that account for family size.

What if I worked in multiple states before becoming disabled?

The EDD uses only your California earnings to calculate your SDI payment. If you worked in another state during the 12-month period, those earnings do not count. You may be covered by that state's disability program instead, depending on how long you worked there and whether you paid into it.

Do I have to pay back my SDI payment if I recover and return to work?

No. Once you receive an SDI payment, you do not repay it even if you recover and go back to work. However, if the EDD determines you were not actually disabled during a period you received payment, they may demand repayment of that overpayment.

How do I know if my payment amount is correct?

The EDD sends you a notice when your claim is approved that shows your calculated weekly benefit amount. You can also log into your account on the EDD website or call their SDI line to see your payment amount. If the amount seems wrong, contact the EDD with your pay stubs or tax return to request a recalculation.

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

You can continue receiving SDI payments even if you move to another state, as long as you remain unable to work and your doctor continues to certify your disability. However, if you move to another country, your payments typically stop. You must notify the EDD of any address change.