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What is California State Disability Insurance

California State Disability Insurance (SDI) is a disability program under the Employment Development Department’s wing, where a portion of the employee’s income is routed to a state fund that offers short-term-disability benefits. SDI defines disability as any form of mental illness or physical injury that hinders one from performing regular and customary work. SDI pays 60%-70% of your wages for up to a year of being disabled.

After you have claimed for a disability benefit, you will receive your first check within two weeks.

What is California State Disability Insurance
You will then receive the next few checks in two-week intervals until your benefit period expires. Your benefit period expires on the date mentioned by your healthcare provider on the claim form. You will receive some of the checks with a “continued claim certification” form attached, asking you to provide information about your disability status, whether you have returned to work or are receiving any other income. Failure to provide this information may result in the SDI making an overpayment and the onus will be on you to pay it back.

If you have paid for the SDI, then you will be eligible for disability benefits under the following circumstances:

  • You have a disability that is unrelated to the job.
  • You are unable to work during pregnancy.
  • You need to take a Paid Family Leave (PFL) to tend to a sick relative or bond with a new child.

You must also meet a few additional requirements to be eligible for an SDI:

  • You have to be disabled or miss work for over seven days if you are an employee.
  • You must be actively applying for jobs if you are not an employee and want to claim an SDI
  • You need to have $300 in wages during the base period
  • In order to receive SDI benefits, you must be under the direct care of a medical provider for the first eight days of your disability.

Note that if you get an injury due to work-related reasons, you can claim benefits from a separate program called Workers’ compensation.

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