California Disability Calculator

Understanding California State Disability Insurance (SDI) Benefits

California's State Disability Insurance (SDI) program provides short-term wage replacement benefits to eligible workers who are unable to work due to a non-work-related illness, injury, or pregnancy. This includes Disability Insurance (DI) and Paid Family Leave (PFL) benefits. Our calculator focuses on estimating your potential DI weekly benefit amount.

Who is Eligible for SDI?

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 lost wages due to your disability.
Have earned at least $300 in your SDI base period from which SDI deductions were withheld.
Be under the care and treatment of a licensed physician/practitioner or authorized religious practitioner.
Complete a seven-day waiting period (unpaid).
File your claim within 41 days of the date your disability began.

How SDI Benefits Are Calculated

Your weekly benefit amount (WBA) is determined by your earnings during a "base period." The base period is a 12-month period divided into four quarters, approximately 5 to 18 months before your disability claim begins. The EDD looks at the quarter in your base period where you earned the most wages.

Generally, your WBA is approximately 60% to 70% of your average weekly wage earned during your highest earning quarter in the base period. There are also minimum and maximum weekly benefit amounts set by the state.

Average Weekly Wage (AWW): This is calculated by taking your total earnings from your highest earning quarter in the base period and dividing it by 13 (the number of weeks in a quarter).
Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA):
- If your AWW is $175 or less, your WBA is typically 70% of your AWW.
- If your AWW is more than $175, your WBA is typically 60% of your AWW.
- The calculated WBA is then subject to a minimum and maximum. As of January 1, 2024, the minimum WBA is $50, and the maximum WBA is $1,620.
Maximum Duration: SDI benefits can be paid for a maximum of 52 weeks.

The 7-Day Waiting Period

There is a mandatory 7-day waiting period for DI benefits. This means you will not be paid for the first seven days of your disability. Benefits begin on the eighth consecutive day you are disabled.

Important Considerations

This calculator provides an estimate based on common rules. The actual benefit amount determined by the EDD may vary based on specific circumstances, exact base period dates, and any changes in state regulations.
The EDD has an official calculator and specific tables they use for precise calculations.
Your benefits may be reduced if you receive other income, such as sick leave wages.

California Disability Benefit Calculator

Highest Quarterly Earnings in Base Period ($):

Estimated Average Weekly Wage: $0.00

Estimated Weekly Benefit Amount: $0.00

Estimated Maximum Total Benefit (52 weeks): $0.00

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