California State Disability Insurance (SDI) Benefit Estimator
Estimated Benefits:
Estimated Weekly Benefit: $0.00
Estimated Total Benefit (based on weeks entered): $0.00
Maximum Possible Total Benefit: $0.00
Understanding California State Disability Insurance (SDI)
The California State Disability Insurance (SDI) program provides short-term wage replacement benefits to eligible California workers who are unable to work due to a non-work-related illness, injury, or pregnancy. This includes both Disability Insurance (DI) and Paid Family Leave (PFL) benefits, though this calculator focuses on DI.
Who is Eligible?
To be eligible for SDI benefits, you must:
- Be unable to do your regular work for at least eight consecutive days.
- Be employed or actively looking for work at the time your disability began.
- Have earned at least $300 in wages subject to SDI deductions during your base period.
- Have suffered a wage loss due to your disability.
- Be under the care and treatment of a licensed physician/practitioner.
- Complete a seven-day waiting period (unpaid) before benefits are paid.
How Benefits Are Calculated
Your weekly benefit amount is determined by your earnings during a "base period." The base period is a 12-month period that falls approximately 5 to 18 months before your disability claim begins. Specifically, it's the 12-month period ending before the last complete calendar quarter prior to the start of your disability.
The EDD (Employment Development Department) calculates your weekly benefit amount based on your highest quarterly earnings within this base period. Generally, benefits are approximately 60 to 70 percent of your wages, up to a maximum weekly amount.
Key Factors in Benefit Calculation:
- Highest Quarterly Earnings: The quarter in your base period where you earned the most money is used to determine your weekly benefit amount.
- Weekly Benefit Amount: As of January 1, 2024, the minimum weekly benefit amount is $50, and the maximum is $1,620. Your actual weekly benefit will fall within this range, based on your earnings.
- Total Base Period Earnings: This is used to determine the maximum total amount of benefits you can receive.
- Maximum Total Benefit: The total amount of benefits you can receive in a claim period is either 52 times your weekly benefit amount or the total wages you earned in your base period, whichever is less.
Using the Calculator
This calculator provides an estimate of your potential California SDI benefits. To use it:
- Highest Quarterly Earnings in Base Period: Enter the total wages you earned in your highest-earning calendar quarter during your base period.
- Total Earnings in Base Period: Enter the sum of all wages you earned across all four quarters of your base period.
- Estimated Weeks of Disability: Input the number of weeks you anticipate being unable to work due to your disability (up to a maximum of 52 weeks).
The calculator will then provide an estimated weekly benefit, an estimated total benefit based on your specified duration, and the maximum possible total benefit you could receive for your claim.
Important Considerations:
- This calculator provides an estimate only. The actual benefit amount determined by the EDD may vary.
- Benefit amounts and rules can change annually. The figures used in this calculator are based on 2024 rates.
- There is a one-week waiting period for which benefits are not paid.
- Benefits are subject to federal income tax.
- You must file a claim with the EDD to receive benefits.
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always refer to the official California EDD website or contact them directly.