FAQs – DI Benefits

• How do you determine my weekly benefit amount for State Disability Insurance (SDI)? How much will I receive?
• What percentage do you use to calculate my SDI benefit rate?
• My doctor says I will be disabled for over a year. How long can I collect SDI benefits?
• I have received my Notice of Computation from SDI, but I haven't received a benefit payment yet. Why not?
• I got my first benefit payment for SDI benefits, but I wasn’t paid for the first seven days. Why not?
• Will my SDI benefits increase or decrease when the base period changes?
• Are SDI benefits taxable?
• Can I collect SDI and Social Security Disability at the same time?

How do you determine my weekly benefit amount for State Disability Insurance (SDI)? How much will I receive?
We calculate your weekly benefit amount using a base period. This base period covers 12 months and is divided into four consecutive quarters of three months each. The wages you were paid approximately 5 to 17 months before the disability claim begins are included in the base period (they must have been subject to the SDI tax). Your base period does not include wages paid at the time your disability begins. For more detailed information, see benefit amounts.

What percentage do you use to calculate my SDI benefit rate?
Your weekly benefit amount is approximately 55 percent of the earnings shown in the highest quarter of your base period. There is an exception. If your highest base period quarter earnings are between $75.00 and $1,749.20, see California Unemployment Insurance Code, Section 2655 or contact SDI

My doctor says I will be disabled for over a year. How long can I collect SDI benefits?
You may collect up to 52 weeks of full SDI benefits, or the amount of wages in your base period, whichever is less. You may be paid for periods longer than 52 weeks if your benefits are reduced because you returned to work on a part-time basis, or if you received other money during your disability claim period. You may want to contact the Social Security Administration (SSA) if your disability will be extended.

I have received my Notice of Computation from SDI, but I haven't received a benefit payment yet. Why not?
We send you the Notice of Computation to let you know we have received your claim for SDI benefits and to tell you your potential weekly benefit amount. We may need further information before we can determine your eligibility. Benefit payments are normally issued within two weeks; however, if we need to request additional information, more time may be needed to process your claim.

I got my first benefit payment for SDI benefits, but I wasn’t paid for the first seven days. Why not?
The first seven days of every claim is a non-payable waiting period.

Will my SDI benefits increase or decrease when the base period changes?
No. Once your claim is established, your base period and your SDI weekly benefit amount remain the same for the duration of that disability claim.

Are SDI benefits taxable?
Your SDI benefits are taxable only if you receive Disability Insurance benefits in place of Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits. In this case, your SDI benefits are considered a substitution for your UI benefits, which are taxable.

Can I collect SDI and Social Security Disability at the same time?
Yes. However, SDI may reduce the amount you receive for Social Security benefits. For further Social Security Administration (SSA) eligibility requirements, please log on to the SSA website.