Disability provides short-term benefit payments when you can’t work and lose wages due to a non-work-related:

• Illness or injury (either physical or mental)
• Pregnancy, childbirth, or other related conditions
• Surgery (including elective)
• Alcohol or drug rehabilitation (some restrictions apply)

You may be eligible to receive between $50 to $1,681 each week for up to 52 weeks, depending on wages you earned 5-18 months before your claim start date. Our Disability Benefit Calculator helps estimate your benefit amount.

DI does not provide job protection. However, your job may be protected through other federal or state laws such as the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) or the California Family Rights Act (CFRA).

You may be eligible for DI benefits if you:

• Can’t do your regular work for at least eight days.
• Have lost wages because of your disability.
• Were working or looking for work at the time your disability started.
• Earned at least $300 with State Disability Insurance (SDI) taken from your paycheck during your base period.
• Have a physician/practitioner certify your disability.

Note: You do not need to work a minimum number of hours or days to qualify for benefits. You may still qualify for disability if you are working part-time, intermittent, reduced hours, or receiving reduced wages.

Once we receive your completed application and medical certification, it takes about two weeks to process. If you are unsure if you are eligible to receive disability benefits, apply. We will let you know if you meet eligibility requirements. Learn more about how we determine eligibility.