How Does California State Disability Insurance (SDI) Work With Federal SSDI Benefits?

California State Disability Insurance (SDI) is one of only a few state-administered, short-term disability benefit programs in the country. As a short-term program, benefits paid by SDI do not extend beyond 52 weeks.

If you have a disabling medical condition expected to last for more than one year, you’ll need to know how to coordinate SDI and federal disability benefits payable through the Social Security Disability Insurance program. For instance, the money you receive each month through SDI may reduce the amount you get through the SSDI program.

Sackett and Associates has been assisting people throughout Northern California and nationwide with their disability claims for more than 45 years. They know the state and federal programs and how tricky it can be to navigate them without the assistance of a season disability attorney. If you have questions about how SDI affects SSDI or want assistance with a disability benefits claim, do not hesitate to reach out to the disability team at Sackett Law.

California SDI programs

California SDI pays short-term disability benefits for non-work-related injuries and illnesses. Coverage includes an inability to work resulting from pregnancy or childbirth.

However, SDI does not pay benefits for voluntarily taking time off from work because of pregnancy or childbirth. California Paid Family Leave benefits are available for the following:

1. Bonding time with a new child for birth mothers, fathers, and foster or adoptive parents.
2. Caregivers who need time to take care of a seriously ill family member.
3. Military assist for individuals who take time off from work to help a member of their family deploying to another country as a member of the military.

SDI pays between 70% to 90% of the wages a person earned before their disability.

A person must meet the following conditions to receive California SDI benefits:

1. They must be unable to work for at least eight days.
2. Lost wages because of a disability.
3. They were working or looking for a job when their disability began.
4. When working, they earned at least $300 and had SDI contributions deducted from their earnings.

The fact that a person has a disability that prevents them from working must be certified by a physician or other licensed practitioner.

SSDI program through the Social Security Administration

The SSDI program provides disability benefits to individuals who meet its work medical requirements. An individual must have a work history before the onset of a disabling medical condition of a long enough duration to meet the program’s work criteria.

The work history must be at jobs or self-employment with contributions made to the Social Security system through payment of payroll taxes. The duration of the work history depends on the age of a worker when applying for SSDI benefits. Younger workers generally require shorter work histories than older workers.

Monthly disability benefits paid through the SSDI program depend on an individual’s average lifetime earnings. Workers with long work histories at high-paying jobs would receive more each month in SSDI benefits than individuals who did not work for as long or had lower earnings.

The medical criteria for SSDI are based on a federal definition of disability. A person must be unable to do any substantial gainful work activity due to a medically determinable physical or mental impairment expected to result in death, or that has lasted or is expected to last for at least 12 continuous months.

Comparing the state and federal programs

The primary difference between California SDI and SSDI through the Social Security Administration is that California SDI pays benefits for short-term disability. The federal disability definition precludes the payment of SSDI benefits for anything other than a long-term disability or a condition expected to result in death.

When comparing SDI vs SSDI California residents need to keep in mind that approval under the SDI program does not ensure approval of an application for SSDI benefits. The Social Security Administration applies federal law and regulations without regard to whether an individual meets the state disability guidelines.

Coordinating the state and federal programs

When working with the disability professionals at Sackett Law for your short- and long-term disability claims, they will strive for SSDI and California disability insurance coordination. An SSDI application can be submitted while you are receiving SDI benefits from the state.

If you receive SSDI benefits while also receiving benefits through SDI, the combined benefits cannot exceed 80% of your pre-disability average earnings. If they do, the SSDI benefits will be reduced accordingly until the SDI benefits end.

Speak to a Northern California disability law firm today

Residents of California who cannot work because of a disabling medical condition may be entitled to benefits through the California SDI program for short-term financial assistance, and through SSDI for long-term benefits. Contact Sackett and Associates for a free consultation to learn how we can help with California SDI and federal disability benefits.