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Workers’ Compensation and Disability Benefits

Learn the difference between Workers’ Compensation and State Disability Insurance.

What is Workers’ Compensation?

Workers’ compensation (WC) provides benefits for a work-related injury or illness. By law, your employer must provide workers’ compensation benefits if you get hurt or sick due to your job. WC injuries may include:

  • Single event at work:
    • Hurting your back in a fall.
    • Burned by a chemical.
    • Injured in a car accident while making deliveries.
  • Repeated exposures at work:
    • Hurting your hand, back, or another body part from repeated motion.
    • Losing your hearing because of constant loud noises.

WC benefits include:

  • Temporary disability benefits.
  • Permanent disability benefits.
  • Medical care.
  • Supplemental job displacement benefits.
  • Death benefits.

How is Disability Insurance different?

Disability Insurance (DI) is part of the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program. DI provides short-term wage replacement for eligible California workers. It is different from WC because it offers benefits for workers with a non-work-related injury or illness. Benefits are paid for up to 52 weeks.

You may be eligible for DI if you can’t work due to:

  • Illness or injury (physical or mental).
  • Surgery (including elective surgery).
  • Pregnancy, childbirth or other related medical conditions.
  • Alcohol or drug addiction recovery.

If you believe your illness or injury is work-related, report it to your employer as soon as possible. This applies to both a sudden injury or illness or one that happened over time. If you don't report your injury within 30 days, it may impact your right to benefits.

Seek treatment right away if needed:

  • Call 911 or go to an emergency room.
  • Notify medical staff it is job-related.

If there is any disagreement about your claim, you may want to file an appeal. Contact the Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Workers’ Compensation for information on the appeal process.

You usually can’t receive both WC and DI at the same time, but there are some exceptions. If you aren’t sure if you’re eligible, file a claim and let us decide.

Examples of When You May Receive DI Benefits:

  • Your employer or workers’ compensation insurance carrier denies or delays workers’ compensation benefits.
  • You may qualify to receive the difference if your workers’ compensation weekly benefit is less than your DI weekly benefit.

Note: If SDI pays benefits while a workers’ compensation case is pending, a lien will be filed to recover those benefits once the case is settled.

Additional Resources

Can’t find what you are looking for? View these DI and PFL resources for more information.