How SDI Benefits Are Calculated in California
State Disability Insurance replaces part of your pay when illness, injury or pregnancy keeps you from working. The amount comes from one quarter of your earnings and a two-tier formula.
California SDI pays a weekly benefit based on your highest-paid quarter in your base period. EDD divides that quarter's wages by 13, then pays 90% of the result if it's under $1,252 a week, or 70% (never less than $1,127) if it's higher. The benefit is capped at $1,765 a week, starts after a 7-day unpaid waiting period and lasts up to 52 weeks.
Step 1: Find your base period
Your base period is 12 months of wages that ended between about 5 and 18 months before your claim starts. It depends on the month you file:
| Claim starts in | Base period ends |
|---|---|
| January to March | September 30 of last year |
| April to June | December 31 of last year |
| July to September | March 31 of this year |
| October to December | June 30 of this year |
You need at least $300 in base-period wages with SDI withheld. Recent earnings, such as a raise in the last few months, often aren't counted yet, which is why the benefit can look low.
Step 2: Turn your best quarter into a weekly wage
EDD looks at the four quarters in your base period, takes the one with the highest wages and divides it by 13, the number of weeks in a quarter. If your best quarter paid $15,000, your weekly wage is $1,153.85.
Step 3: Apply the two-tier rate
Since 2025, SB 951 sets two replacement rates. The dividing line is 70% of the state average weekly wage, which is $1,789 for this year, putting it at $1,252.30:
- Below the line: 90% of your weekly wage.
- At or above it: 70% of your weekly wage, but never less than $1,127 (90% of the line). Without that floor, crossing the line would cut your benefit.
- Limits: at least $50 and at most $1,765 a week.
In the example, $1,153.85 is below the line, so the weekly benefit is 90% of it: $1,038.
What different earnings get you
| Highest quarter | Weekly wage | Weekly benefit |
|---|---|---|
| $6,500 | $500 | $450 |
| $15,000 | $1,154 | $1,038 |
| $19,000 | $1,462 | $1,127 |
| $26,000 | $2,000 | $1,400 |
| $40,000 | $3,077 | $1,765 |
You reach the $1,765 maximum once your best quarter pays about $32,779, roughly $131,114 a year. There's no longer a cap on the wages SDI is withheld from: the 1.3% deduction applies to all of your pay, but the benefit still stops at the weekly maximum.
The waiting period and how long it lasts
You must be unable to do your regular work for at least 8 days. The first 7 days are an unpaid waiting period (UIC 2627), and benefits start on day 8. After that, SDI can pay for up to 52 weeks on one claim, as long as a licensed health professional keeps certifying the disability.
Pregnancy is covered like any other disability. EDD normally pays up to 4 weeks before the expected delivery date and 6 weeks after a vaginal birth or 8 weeks after a C-section, and longer if your provider certifies complications. After that, you can move to Paid Family Leave to bond with the baby, which uses the same formula. Our guide to Paid Family Leave explains how that part works.
Filing and getting paid
- File through SDI Online no earlier than 9 days and no later than 49 days after your disability starts.
- Your doctor, or another licensed practitioner EDD accepts such as a nurse practitioner, chiropractor or psychologist, certifies the claim electronically.
- EDD pays by debit card or direct deposit, usually every two weeks once the claim is approved.
- If your employer pays sick leave or other wages during the claim, EDD reduces the benefit so that the two together don't exceed your usual weekly pay.
SDI is usually not taxable. California never taxes it, and it's generally tax-free federally too, unless it replaced unemployment benefits you were already receiving.
Why your benefit might differ
- Your best quarter is older than you think. The base period lags your claim by up to 18 months, so a recent raise may not count.
- Only SDI-covered wages count. Pay from most government jobs and self-employment income isn't included unless SDI was withheld or you bought elective coverage.
- Rounding. EDD's benefit table is in whole dollars, so your notice can differ by a dollar from this formula.
Run your numbers
Enter your weekly wage in our SDI Benefit Calculator to see which tier you fall in. For pregnancy, the maternity leave calculator adds SDI and PFL together, and the paycheck calculator shows the SDI deduction on your pay.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is my California SDI weekly benefit calculated?
EDD takes your highest-paid quarter in the base period and divides it by 13 to get a weekly wage. If that's below $1,252, you get 90% of it. At or above $1,252, you get the greater of 70% or $1,127. The benefit is capped at $1,765 a week.
What is the maximum SDI benefit in California?
$1,765 a week. You reach it when your highest quarter pays about $32,779 or more.
How long does California SDI last?
Up to 52 weeks for one disability, as long as your doctor keeps certifying that you can't do your regular work. The first 7 days are an unpaid waiting period.
Is California SDI taxable?
Usually not. SDI benefits aren't taxed by California and generally aren't federally taxable either. The exception is SDI paid in place of unemployment benefits you were already receiving, which is federally taxable up to your unemployment benefit amount.
When should I file an SDI claim?
EDD accepts a claim no earlier than 9 days and no later than 49 days after your disability begins. Filing late can cost you benefits unless you have good cause.
This article is for general information only and is not legal or tax advice. EDD decides every claim; your Notice of Computation shows your actual benefit.