What is the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program? |
Back to top |
The State of California administers the State Disability Insurance program, commonly referred to as SDI. It is a public disability insurance program that pays a benefit every other week. |
|
Who Pays for SDI? |
Back to top |
Covered employees pay SDI premiums through payroll taxes. Self-employed people may participate by enrolling in elective coverage and pay premiums based on their profits from the previous year.
|
|
By what other names is the SDI program known? |
Back to top |
The acronym used by the State Disability Insurance program is "SDI", although others may use "DI". State Disability may also be referred to as "short-term disability ", which can cause misunderstandings. Short-Term Disability is private disability insurance that can be offered from an employer or purchased by individuals.
|
|
Who is covered by SDI? |
Back to top |
Most California employees are covered by SDI. Groups of employees that are not covered include:
People who are self-employed or have their own business can get elective coverage. |
|
What is Paid Family Leave? |
Back to top |
Paid Family Leave (PFL) is part of the SDI program. It replaces income you lose when you miss work to care for a sick relative or bond with a new child. Although there's a different form for making a claim, the benefit is calculated the same way as SDI is. You can have up to six weeks of PFL per year. |
|
Does SDI come with any health coverage? |
Back to top |
No. SDI only provides wage replacement income.
|
|
How is the SDI benefit calculated? |
Back to top |
The SDI program generally pays 55% of the wages you earned before your disability. They determine your wages by looking at a yearlong period that starts around 17 months before your disability, and ends around 5 months before your disability. Those 12 months are called your base period. SDI divides your base period into 4 quarters and uses the quarter when you had the highest wages to determine your benefit.
|
|
How is a base period determined? |
Back to top |
The base periods are determined as follows:
|
|
How long does the SDI benefit last? |
Back to top |
Your benefit period depends on your medical provider's statement of how long your disability is expected to last. Your medical provider can extend this period up to the program maximum, which is generally 52 weeks (39 weeks for elective coverage).
If you return to work part time or have other income during your benefit period, you can get a partial benefit for longer than 52 weeks. |
|
What are the medical eligibility requirements for SDI? |
Back to top |
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.
If you are getting Paid Family Leave for caring for a sick relative, the relative has to have a mental or physical condition that requires hospitalization, hospice care, or treatment in a residential medical facility. |
|
Does what I have in the bank or what I own, such as a home or car, affect my eligibility for SDI? |
Back to top |
No. There are no limits on what you own or have in the bank for this program. |
|
How do I apply for SDI? |
Back to top |
Applications are available from most medical providers' offices, the SDI offices, or the SDI website. Both application and processing of SDI claims are sent by mail.
For, Paid Family Leave, call 1-877-BE-THERE (1-877-238-4373) to order a form. |
|
How soon after applying will I be eligible for benefits from SDI? |
Back to top |
There is a seven day waiting period for all disabilities before benefits are paid. Benefits are issued from the eighth day forward. SDI normally processes applications within 14 days from the date of receipt.
|
|
I used to work for a California employer. What happens if I became disabled after recently enrolling as a self-employed individual and just started paying into elective coverage? |
Back to top |
There is usually a minimum of six months from the effective date of elective coverage before your eligibility can be based on your contributions. However, if you worked as an employee in California (and were paying into State Disability Insurance) prior to enrolling in elective coverage, you may have wages in your base period from that may provide you with a valid claim.
|
|
What other benefit programs are available to me and how will they work with SDI? |
Back to top |
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 SDI 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 and private benefits programs will have their own rules for enrollment, medical eligibility and any benefit reduction for SDI.
You generally can't get SDI and Workers' Compensation at the same time, except when you are waiting for your Workers' Compensation claim to be decided. You can't get Unemployment Insurance and SDI benefits at the same time. |
|
What is the difference between State Disability Insurance (SDI) and Social Security disability programs? |
Back to top |
The SDI 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. It also covers Paid Family Leave for those who are caring for a sick relative or bonding with a new child.
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. |
|
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)? |
Back to top |
Yes. Eligibility for the Social Security programs will not affect your eligibility for State Disability Insurance (SDI). However, your eligibility for State Disability may affect your eligibility or benefit amount from the Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance programs. |
|
How do I stay enrolled/eligible in the SDI program? How often do I have to reapply? |
Back to top |
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. Also see "How long does the SDI benefit last? ". |
|
Are there rules for immigrants to qualify for SDI? |
Back to top |
SDI does not have a proof of citizenship or immigration status requirement at the time of application.
|
|
Will SDI provide me with income if I am currently still working and need to reduce my work hours because of my disability? |
Back to top |
Yes. You may be eligible for a partial or full benefit if you are working less than your regular hours.
|
|
Is the SDI benefit taxable? |
Back to top |
No. Benefits are not taxable, unless your SDI is in place of Unemployment Insurance. In this case, your SDI benefit is taxable.
|
|
Can I receive both Unemployment Insurance and SDI benefits? |
Back to top |
No. You cannot receive Unemployment Insurance and SDI benefits simultaneously. You should consider Unemployment Insurance if you are now able to work and looking for work. You should apply for SDI if you are unable to work due to a disability. |
|
What happens when I work while receiving benefits from the SDI program? |
Back to top |
Your SDI benefit amount depends on how much you make with the combination of your new wages and SDI benefit. If that amount is lower than your pre-disability wages, you'll continue to receive the full SDI benefit. If that amount is higher than your pre-disability wages, your SDI benefit will be reduced accordingly.
If there is a reduction in your SDI payment, your benefit period may go beyond the 52 week maximum (39 weeks for elective coverage). |
|
When should I file my claim? |
Back to top |
You should file your application in a timely manner, no earlier than the 9th and no later than the 49th day after the date your claim states your disability began. If you are beyond the 49th day, include a letter explaining why you couldn't file your claim in time.
|
|
Does SDI cover pregnancy? |
Back to top |
Yes. For a pregnancy without complications, the benefit period is generally from 4 weeks before your due date to 6 weeks after your delivery. If your pregnancy prevents you from working before or after that period, your doctor has to indicate why on the claim form.
|
|
Are SDI programs available and the same in the rest of the country? |
Back to top |
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.
|
|
