Disability Insurance Elective Coverage (DIEC)
We offer an optional Disability Insurance Elective Coverage (DIEC) program for people who don’t pay into State Disability Insurance (SDI) but want to be covered by Disability Insurance (DI) and Paid Family Leave (PFL).
DI offers benefits to those approved for DIEC when they can’t work and lose income because of a non-work-related illness, injury, pregnancy, or childbirth.
PFL offers benefits to those approved for DIEC when they need to take time off from work to:
- Take care of a seriously ill child, parent, parent-in-law, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or registered domestic partner.
- Bond with a new child entering the family through birth, adoption, or foster care placement.
- Participate in a qualifying event because of a family member’s (spouse, registered domestic partner, parent, or child) military deployment to a foreign country.
DIEC Eligiblity
Small business owners, entrepreneurs, independent contractors, self-employed people, or general partners who meet the requirements can apply for DIEC.
A general partnership can include married co-owners who both actively manage the business. Limited partners and corporate officers are not eligible.
How to Apply
You may apply for the DIEC program by completing the proper application and mailing it to the address on the form.
- Application for Disability Insurance Elective Coverage (DE 1378DI) (PDF)
- Application for Unemployment Insurance, Disability Insurance, and Paid Family Leave Elective Coverage Under Section 708(A) of the Unemployment Insurance Code (DE 1378A) (PDF)
Additional Resources