• Yes. If you are suffering a wage loss, we suggest that you file a claim. After we receive your properly completed claim, we will determine if you are otherwise eligible for SDI benefits.

• If you return to work part time and still suffer a loss of wages, we can pay benefits equal to your wage loss but not more than your weekly benefit rate. We will look at what you earned on a weekly basis before your claim began, then subtract what you're currently earning working part-time. The difference between the two figures is your wage loss, or the amount of wages you are losing by working part-time. If your wage loss is greater than your weekly benefit amount, you'll receive benefits at your full SDI rate. If the wage loss is less than your weekly rate, you'll receive the amount of your wage loss only. The following examples are guidelines only. Since each situation is different, if you return to work on a part-time basis, please contact SDI for clarification.
  
  EXAMPLE 1: Calculating your wage loss

  Regular weekly salary	$1000
  Less part-time weekly salary	-400
  Equals your wage loss	$600

  
  

  Your weekly benefit amount	$550

  Your check amount will be

  $550

  
  Your wage loss ($600) is greater than your weekly benefit amount ($550), and your part-time wages plus your benefit amount ($400+$550=$950) are less than your regular weekly wage ($1000), so you will receive a full benefit check with no adjustments.
  
  EXAMPLE 2: Calculating your wage loss

  Regular weekly salary	$1000
  Less part-time weekly salary	- 600
  Equals your wage loss	$ 400

  
  

  Your weekly benefit amount	$ 550
  Your check amount will be	$ 400

  
  Your wage loss ($400) is less than your weekly benefit amount ($550), and your part-time wages plus your benefit amount ($600+$550=$1150) are greater than your regular weekly wage ($1000), so you will receive an adjusted $400 benefit check. The amount of the check plus your part-time salary will equal your regular salary ($400+$600=$1000).

• You may receive benefits as long as you have at least $300 in gross wages in your base period, are suffering a loss of wages, and meet other basic eligibility requirements.

• Yes. Vacation benefits are not in conflict with SDI.

• You cannot receive SDI benefits for any period for which you also receive sick leave wages that are equivalent to your full (or regular) salary. If you are receiving only partial sick leave wages, however, you may be eligible for full or partial SDI benefits.

• No. PTO payments are considered the same as sick leave wages if the payments are made as a replacement for sick leave when you are disabled. However, if you are receiving partial PTO and still suffering a wage loss you may be entitled to full or partial SDI benefits.

• The Employment Development Department has no jurisdiction over issues involving wages, hours of work, or conditions of employment.
  
  You may want to contact the California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR), who has responsibility over the above employment issues. To find your local DIR office, visit http://www.dir.ca.gov/DLSE/dlse.html.
  
  For information about employment and disability issues, including termination during a disability, contact the Department of Fair Employment and Housing at 1-(800) 884-1684, or visit its Web site at http://www.dfeh.ca.gov.
  
  

• The Employment Development Department has no jurisdiction over issues involving the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). This program, administered by the United States Department of Labor (DOL), provides temporary continuation of health benefits at group rates for certain former employees. For information you may contact DOL at 1-866-275-7922, TTY 1-877-889-5627. In addition, you may wish to read or download the pamphlet about the COBRA program at Web site address: http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/pdf/cobra99.pdf (You will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader to view or print the pamphlet.) You can find the free Adobe Acrobat Reader at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

• Termination will not interfere with your entitlement to SDI benefits as long as you continue to meet the other eligibility requirements.

For more information please call SDI at 1-800-480-3287 or 1-866-658-8846 (En Español)