Social Security disability programs assist millions of people who cannot work because of disabling medical conditions. They do not, however, pay for short-term disabilities expected to last for less than a year.
Workers in California have access to a state program that provides short-term wage-replacement benefits. A CA disability weekly benefit equal to a percentage of a person’s wages is available through a state disability insurance (SDI) program.
For more than 45 years, Sackett and Associates has been the disability benefits law firm California residents have turned to for assistance with state and federal disability benefits. They now assist people with disabilities nationwide. Here is an in-depth look at how much SDI pays.
California State Disability Insurance Overview
Only five states, including California, have mandatory short-term disability programs providing lost-wage benefits for workers who become disabled. California state disability pay requires that a person be employed and working when they become disabled. The program also covers a person who was actively looking for work at the onset of a disability.
A person must be out of work because of a disability for at least eight days. SDI does not provide benefits for long-term disability. If you have been diagnosed with a medical condition expected to last for at least 12 months, you may have other disability benefit options available to you.
A disability benefits lawyer at Sackett Law will review your work history and the nature of your disability to assist you in applying for Social Security disability benefits. The Social Security Disability Insurance program, administered by the Social Security Administration, pays long-term disability benefits unavailable through the California disability payment program.
SDI pays benefits for disabilities related to the following conditions:
- Pregnancy or childbirth.
- Non-work-related illness or injury.
- Surgery, elective and non-elective.
- Alcohol or drug rehabilitation.
As a condition of the SDI program, you must be under the care of a physician or other licensed medical practitioner when applying for benefits. Your healthcare provider must certify in writing the nature of your disability and that it requires time away from work.
A disability caused by an injury or illness occurring at or related to work does not meet the criteria for SDI benefits. Work-related disabilities must be submitted to your employer’s workers’ compensation carrier to receive benefits for time lost from your job, payment of medical care, and other benefits available through the state workers’ compensation program.
Benefits Available Through The California Disability Program
California state disability benefits range from $50 to $1,681 per week for up to 52 weeks. How much SDI pays depends on the amount of wages you earned before the onset of a disability.
When you apply for disability benefits, the CA SDI benefits amount calculation relies on the wages you earned during a base period. The 12 months between roughly 18 months and five months before the onset of your disability serve as the base period.
Depending on your wages during the base period, SDI pays a percentage of them as your weekly SDI benefits. However, you must have earned at least $300 and paid SDI taxes on the earnings.
The base period is divided into four quarters of three months each, and how much of SDI paid represents a percentage of your wages during the quarter with your highest earnings. The rate ranges from 70% to 90% based on how much you earn. It’s a sliding scale, so individuals with lower earnings during the base period receive a higher percentage of their base period earnings as their SDI benefits.
How Long Do SDI Benefit Payments Continue?
Expect to receive your SDI benefit payments every two weeks through direct deposit to your bank account or to a debit card. Benefit payments continue until the date your medical provider certified as the date when you could return to work.
If you remain disabled and unable to work beyond the date in the certification, you must fill out a form requesting more time. The request must be certified by your provider. You generally can only receive benefits for a maximum of 52 weeks.
If you return to work part-time and earn less than you did before becoming disabled, you may be eligible to continue receiving SDI benefits. However, the money you earn from working plus the SDI benefits cannot exceed what you earned before becoming disabled. Your SDI benefits will be reduced accordingly.
Get Help From A Disability Lawyer
The disability benefits team at Sackett and Associates can help with your claim for SDI benefits. A denial of benefits may be appealed, but you have only 30 days from the date of the denial notice. Our disability lawyers can assist you in applying for California state disability for short-term benefits and Social Security Disability for long-term benefits.
Contact Sackett Law today for a free consultation and assistance with state and federal disability benefit programs.
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