What Is SDI on My California Paycheck?
2026 rate, what it covers, Paid Family Leave, and how to file a claim.
The Short Answer
SDI stands for State Disability Insurance. On California paychecks it appears as CASDI or CA SDI. It is a mandatory employee payroll deduction, you cannot opt out. For 2026, the rate is 1.1% of your gross wages with no wage cap. On a $70,000 salary, that is approximately $770 per year, or about $30 per biweekly paycheck.
SDI Deduction Calculator
Calculated at 1.1% rate (2026) with no wage cap. See your full paycheck breakdown →
What Does SDI Cover?
Your SDI deduction funds two California programmes:
Pays 60–70% of your weekly wages (up to a maximum weekly benefit) if you cannot work due to:
- Non-work-related illness or injury
- Pregnancy and childbirth recovery
- Surgery or hospitalisation
- Elective procedures that prevent working
7-day waiting period before benefits begin. Maximum benefit period: 52 weeks.
Pays 60–70% of your weekly wages for up to 8 weeks when you:
- Bond with a new child (birth, adoption, or foster)
- Care for a seriously ill family member
- Assist a military family member
No waiting period for PFL. Claims filed with California EDD.
2026 SDI Rate Details
Wage cap removed January 2024. Previously, SDI was only withheld on wages up to approximately $153,164 (the 2023 wage cap). Since January 1, 2024, all wages are subject to SDI regardless of amount. This change was enacted under SB 951 (2022) and significantly increases the SDI cost for high earners.
California SDI historical rates: 2019 to 2026
CASDI is a moving target. The rate has changed five times since 2019, and the wage cap that limited high-earner exposure was removed entirely in January 2024 under SB 951 (2022). Knowing where the rate has been helps frame how unusual the current 1.1%-no-cap regime really is.
| Year | SDI rate | Wage cap | Max annual contribution | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1.0% | $118,371 | $1,183.71 | Pre-pandemic baseline |
| 2020 | 1.0% | $122,909 | $1,229.09 | Wage cap adjusted with state ABW |
| 2021 | 1.2% | $128,298 | $1,539.58 | Rate up 20% to fund pandemic-era PFL extensions |
| 2022 | 1.1% | $145,600 | $1,601.60 | Rate eased; cap stepped up |
| 2023 | 0.9% | $153,164 | $1,378.48 | Last year with a wage cap. Lowest rate in the period. |
| 2024 | 1.1% | None | Unlimited (1.1% of all wages) | SB 951 removes wage cap. Rate up; high earners pay materially more. |
| 2025 | 1.2% | None | Unlimited (1.2% of all wages) | Rate increased to support expanded PFL benefit (up to 90% of wages). |
| 2026 (current) | 1.1% | None | Unlimited (1.1% of all wages) | Current year. Rate set annually by EDD based on fund balance. |
What changed for high earners in 2024: a worker earning $300,000 paid $1,378 in SDI in 2023 (0.9% capped at $153,164). The same worker in 2024 paid $3,300 (1.1% on all $300,000). That is a 140% increase in SDI exposure year over year for top earners, the largest single-year CASDI policy change since the program began.
Source: California EDD annual rate announcements (the EDD publishes the rate and wage base on its website each November for the following calendar year). The Max annual contribution column reflects the rate × wage cap for capped years, or is shown as "Unlimited" once the cap was removed. Always confirm the current year's rate directly with EDD before filing payroll or computing year-end paycheck estimates.
SDI vs FICA, What's the Difference?
| Feature | California SDI | FICA (Federal) |
|---|---|---|
| Level | California only | Federal, all 50 states |
| Administered by | California EDD | Social Security Administration / IRS |
| Rate | 1.1% (employee only) | 6.2% SS + 1.45% Medicare (employee); employer matches |
| Wage cap | None (since 2024) | SS: $176,100 cap; Medicare: no cap |
| Benefits funded | Short-term disability + Paid Family Leave | Social Security retirement + Medicare health coverage |
| If you move to Texas | SDI disappears from paycheck | FICA continues, same in all states |
How to File a California SDI Claim
SDI covers non-work-related illness, injury, pregnancy disability, or surgery. PFL covers bonding with a new child or caring for a seriously ill family member.
There is a 7-calendar-day non-payable waiting period for SDI disability claims. Paid Family Leave has no waiting period.
File online at edd.ca.gov/disability. You'll need your Social Security number, employer information, bank account for direct deposit, and for disability claims, a medical certification from your doctor.
EDD typically processes claims within 14 days. Benefits are paid weekly by direct deposit or check. Benefit amount is 60–70% of your weekly wages, up to the maximum weekly benefit.
EDD claims portal: edd.ca.gov/disability ↗