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State Disability Insurance (SDI) and Paid Family Leave (California partial wage replacement for illness, pregnancy and family care): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens next

State Disability Insurance pays California workers part of their wages while they cannot work because of a non-work illness, injury or pregnancy (up to 52 weeks), and Paid Family Leave pays while they care for a seriously ill family member or bond with a new child (up to 8 weeks). Benefits run $50 to $1,765 a week. Apply to EDD through SDI Online or by mail.

What State Disability Insurance and Paid Family Leave is, in one paragraph

State Disability Insurance is a California payroll-funded program, run by the Employment Development Department, that replaces part of a worker's wages when they need time off work. It has two parts. Disability Insurance (DI) pays when the worker cannot do their regular work because of their own non-work illness, injury, pregnancy or childbirth. Paid Family Leave (PFL) pays when the worker needs time off to care for a seriously ill family member, to bond with a new child, or for a family member's military deployment abroad. Most W-2 workers pay in through the CASDI line on their paystub. Citizenship and immigration status do not matter.

$50 to $1,765
the weekly benefit for DI and PFL claims beginning on or after 1 January 2026 (EDD, rule:weekly_benefit_table)

Who may qualify

DI needs all of these (rule:di_eligibility): unable to do your regular work for at least eight days (rule:di_eight_days), lost wages, working or looking for work when it began, under the care of a licensed health professional in the first eight days (rule:di_under_care), and at least $300 of SDI-taxed wages in the base period (rule:base_period_300).

PFL needs: unable to do your regular work because you are caring for a seriously ill family member, bonding with a new child, or supporting a family member's military deployment abroad; working or looking for work when leave starts; and the same $300 of SDI-taxed wages.

The weekly amount comes from the quarter of the base period with the highest wages (rule:weekly_benefit_table):

Highest quarter wagesWeekly benefit
Less than $300not eligible
$300 to $722.49$50
$722.50 to $16,279.9090% of weekly wages
$16,279.91 to $20,931.30$1,127
$20,931.31 or more70% of weekly wages, up to $1,765

DI pays for up to 52 weeks (rule:di_52_weeks). PFL pays for up to 8 weeks in a 12-month period (rule:pfl_8_weeks) and does not protect the job (rule:pfl_no_job_protection).

How to apply, and what happens after

File through myEDD and SDI Online or by mail on the paper claim form.

DI: file the Claim for Disability Insurance Benefits (DE 2501) no earlier than nine days and no later than 49 days after the disability begins, and have your licensed health professional submit the medical certification within the same 49 days (rule:di_file_window).

PFL: file the Claim for Paid Family Leave Benefits (DE 2501F) from the first day of leave to 41 days after it starts (rule:pfl_file_window), with proof of relationship for bonding or the care recipient's medical certificate for care (rule:pfl_documents). Bonding must be used within 12 months of the birth or placement (rule:pfl_bonding_12_months). A mother on a pregnancy DI claim is sent the bonding form (DE 2501FP) automatically.

EDD decides a completed claim in up to 14 days (rule:decision_14_days). DI has an unpaid seven-day waiting period (rule:di_waiting_7_days). To keep DI paid, return the DE 2593 sent after 10 weeks of automatic payment (rule:di_continuing_cert) or the DE 2500A sent every two weeks (rule:di_biweekly_cert). A denial can be appealed within 30 days of the notice date (rule:appeal_30_days).

The procedure, stage by stage, as data
JSONThe procedure, stage by stage, as data
12 items
10 keys
"id""stage:discover"
"order"1
"name""Discover"
"what_happens""Worker learns SDI pays part of wages while they cannot work because of their own illness, injury or pregnancy (DI), or while caring for a family member, bonding with a new child, or a family military deployment (PFL)"
"who_acts""Worker"
"timeline""DI: file 9 to 49 days after the disability begins; PFL: within 41 days of leave starting"
"evidence""None"
"failure_mode""Not knowing CASDI on the paystub means they paid in; assuming immigration status matters (it does not, rule:immigration_not_a_factor)"
"model_role""State which part fits and the filing window"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:screen_eligibility"
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"name""Screen eligibility"
"what_happens""Check: unable to do regular work (8+ days for DI), lost wages, working or looking for work at the start, $300 of SDI wages in the base period"
"who_acts""Model + worker"
"timeline""Minutes"
"evidence""Paystubs showing CASDI; start date"
"failure_mode""Picking a start date that moves the base period; it cannot be changed later"
"model_role""Compute the base period from the start month; flag work injuries for workers' comp"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:gather_documents"
"order"3
"name""Gather documents"
"what_happens""DI: the licensed health professional's medical certification. PFL: proof of relationship (bonding), care recipient's medical certificate (care), proof of the military event"
"who_acts""Worker + health professional"
"timeline""Before or with the claim"
"evidence""Medical certification; birth or adoption record"
"failure_mode""Certification not submitted within 49 days (DI)"
"model_role""Produce the document list for the claim type"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:complete_application"
"order"4
"name""Complete application"
"what_happens""Fill DE 2501 (DI) or DE 2501F / DE 2501FP (PFL) in SDI Online or on paper"
"who_acts""Worker"
"timeline""One session"
"evidence""Claim facts"
"failure_mode""Filing DI on day one, which EDD says causes delays"
"model_role""Pre-fill a worksheet"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:submit"
"order"5
"name""Submit"
"what_happens""Submit through myEDD and SDI Online (recommended) or by mail"
"who_acts""Worker"
"timeline""DI: day 9 to day 49; PFL: day 0 to day 41"
"evidence""Receipt"
"failure_mode""Late filing loses benefits unless there is a good reason"
"model_role""Give the exact last day from the start date"
"automation_class""B - the worker signs in and submits"
10 keys
"id""stage:interview_verification"
"order"6
"name""Interview / verification"
"what_happens""Health professional certifies; EDD may call or write, contact the employer or practitioner, or order an independent medical examination"
"who_acts""EDD + health professional"
"timeline""Within the 14-day review"
"evidence""Medical certification"
"failure_mode""Practitioner never submits the certification"
"model_role""Remind the worker to confirm the practitioner submitted"
"automation_class""C - medical certification is human"
10 keys
"id""stage:decision"
"order"7
"name""Decision"
"what_happens""EDD sends a Notice of Computation (DE 429D) and, if eligible, a payment notice; if not, a Notice of Determination with an appeal form"
"who_acts""EDD"
"timeline""Up to 14 days on a completed claim (rule:decision_14_days)"
"evidence""DE 429D, DE 2500E or DE 2517/DE 2514"
"failure_mode""Reading the DE 429D as approval"
"model_role""Explain the notices"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:issuance_use"
"order"8
"name""Issuance / use"
"what_happens""Payment by direct deposit (SDI Online only), debit card or check; DI pays from the eighth day"
"who_acts""EDD"
"timeline""Seven unpaid days for DI (rule:di_waiting_7_days)"
"evidence""None"
"failure_mode""Expecting payment for the first seven days of DI"
"model_role""Explain the waiting period and the weekly amount table"
"automation_class""D"
10 keys
"id""stage:report_changes"
"order"9
"name""Report changes"
"what_happens""Certify continuing disability (DE 2593 after 10 weeks, or DE 2500A every two weeks); report part-time wages"
"who_acts""Worker + health professional"
"timeline""DE 2593 at 10 weeks; DE 2500A every two weeks"
"evidence""Updated certification"
"failure_mode""Benefits stop when the form is not returned"
"model_role""Remind of the forms and when they come"
"automation_class""B"
10 keys
"id""stage:denial_response"
"order"10
"name""Denial response"
"what_happens""Read the Notice of Determination; missing information can make the worker eligible on review"
"who_acts""Worker"
"timeline""30 days from the notice date (rule:appeal_30_days)"
"evidence""The notice; missing documents"
"failure_mode""Letting 30 days pass"
"model_role""Identify what is missing"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:appeal_fair_hearing"
"order"11
"name""Appeal / fair hearing"
"what_happens""Appeal on DE 1000A or by letter; EDD reviews, then forwards to the local Office of Appeals for a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge"
"who_acts""Worker + CUIAB"
"timeline""Within 30 days; late only for good cause (rule:appeal_late)"
"evidence""Appeal form, evidence"
"failure_mode""Missing the hearing: the appeal is dismissed"
"model_role""Draft the appeal facts; never files"
"automation_class""B"
10 keys
"id""stage:overpayment_exit"
"order"12
"name""Overpayment / exit"
"what_happens""Benefits end at 52 weeks (DI) or 8 weeks (PFL), on return to work, or when the practitioner releases the worker; overpayments are recovered"
"who_acts""EDD"
"timeline""DI up to 52 weeks (rule:di_52_weeks); PFL up to 8 weeks in 12 months (rule:pfl_8_weeks)"
"evidence""None"
"failure_mode""Not reporting a return to work"
"model_role""State the end date"
"automation_class""B"

The same facts open other programs

The fact SDI asks first, the worker's employment status, is also asked by the programs below, and a pregnancy, a new child or an injury opens several of them at once:

References (8)
What this article shares with the graph
JSONWhat this article shares with the graph
6 keys
"program_id""B028"
"graph""california-benefits-graph"
"related_program_ids" 8 items
"B027"
"B072"
"B003"
"B011"
"B001"
"B060"
"B025"
"B023"
"related_programs" 8 keys
"B027""Unemployment Insurance (UI)"
"B072""Workers' compensation (temporary disability)"
"B003""WIC (Women, Infants & Children)"
"B011""Medi-Cal (Medicaid)"
"B001""CalFresh (SNAP)"
"B060""Subsidized child care: CalWORKs Stages 1-3 + Alternative Payment (CAPP)"
"B025""SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance)"
"B023""SSI + California SSP"
"triggered_by_events" 2 items
"event:pregnancy_new_baby"
"event:job_related_injury_can_t_work_temporary"
"shares_facts_with" 1 key
"employment.status" 3 items
"B001"
"B027"
"B060"

Official addresses

Related pages
Beside
Unemployment Insurance (California weekly benefit after job loss): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextWorkers’ compensation temporary disability (California pay while recovering from a job injury): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextWIC (Women, Infants & Children) (California food, nutrition and breastfeeding support for pregnancy and children under 5): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextMedi-Cal (California Medicaid health coverage): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextCalFresh (California food benefits): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextSubsidized child care in California (CalWORKs Stages One, Two and Three and Alternative Payment vouchers): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextSocial Security Disability Insurance (SSDI, monthly federal payments for workers who cannot work because of a disability): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextSSI and California SSP (monthly cash for people 65 or older, blind or disabled with very low income): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens next
References (22)
  1. State Disability Insurance — California Employment Development Department (EDD)“The California State Disability Insurance (SDI) program provides short-term Disability Insurance (DI) and Paid Family Leave (PFL) wage replacement benefits to eligible workers who need time off work.”
  2. Am I Eligible for Disability Insurance Benefits? — California Employment Development Department (EDD)“Earned at least $300 with State Disability Insurance (SDI) deducted from your paycheck.”
  3. Am I Eligible for DI: eight days — California Employment Development Department (EDD)“do your regular work for at least eight days.”
  4. Am I Eligible for DI: 52 weeks — California Employment Development Department (EDD)“If eligible, you can get benefit payments for up to 52 weeks.”
  5. Am I Eligible for DI: licensed health professional — California Employment Development Department (EDD)“You must be a patient of a Licensed Health Professional in the first eight days of your disability.”
  6. Am I Eligible for DI: when to file — California Employment Development Department (EDD)“No later than 49 days after your disability begins.”
  7. Am I Eligible for DI: immigration status — California Employment Development Department (EDD)“Citizenship and immigration status do not affect eligibility.”
  8. Disability Insurance Benefit Payment Amounts — California Employment Development Department (EDD)“70% of weekly wages up to a $1,765 maximum”
  9. Disability Insurance Benefit Payment Amounts: percentage — California Employment Development Department (EDD)“(depending on income) of the wages you earned 5 to 18 months before your claim start date and up to the maximum WBA.”
  10. Disability Insurance Benefit Payment Amounts: base period — California Employment Development Department (EDD)“For a DI claim to be valid, you must have at least $300 in wages in the base period.”
  11. Disability Insurance Benefit Payment Amounts: 2026 claims — California Employment Development Department (EDD)“If a claim begins on or after January 1, 2026:”
  12. Disability Insurance Claim Process: decision time — California Employment Development Department (EDD)“You can expect this process to take up to 14 days.”
  13. Disability Insurance Claim Process: waiting period — California Employment Development Department (EDD)“Before you receive benefits, you must serve an unpaid seven-day waiting period (calendar days).”
  14. Disability Insurance Claim Process: continuing certification — California Employment Development Department (EDD)“we will send you a Disability Claim Continuing Eligibility Certification (DE 2593) after 10 weeks of payment.”
  15. Disability Insurance Claim Process: every two weeks — California Employment Development Department (EDD)“we will send you a Claim for Continued Disability Benefits (DE 2500A) every two weeks to certify that your disability continues.”
  16. Paid Family Leave — California Employment Development Department (EDD)“If eligible, you may receive benefit payments for up to 8 weeks in a 12-month period. The minimum weekly benefit amount is $50, and the maximum is $1,765 per week.”
  17. Paid Family Leave: job protection — California Employment Development Department (EDD)“PFL provides benefit payments but not job protection.”
  18. Am I Eligible for Paid Family Leave Benefits? — California Employment Development Department (EDD)“No later than 41 days after your family leave begins or you may lose benefits.”
  19. Am I Eligible for PFL: documents — California Employment Development Department (EDD)“Proof of relationship on bonding claims.”
  20. Paid Family Leave Claim Process: bonding window — California Employment Development Department (EDD)“Bonding claim benefits must be used within 12 months after the child”
  21. State Disability Insurance Appeals — California Employment Development Department (EDD)“you have the right to appeal any decision electronically or in writing within 30 days of the date your notice was issued.”
  22. State Disability Insurance Appeals: late appeals — California Employment Development Department (EDD)“You can still submit an appeal after the 30-day deadline, but you must provide the reasons why you missed the deadline.”