California SDI Calculator 2026

California SDI 2026 is a 1.3% employee-paid payroll deduction with no wage cap (since 2024 under SB 951), funding both short-term disability (DI) and Paid Family Leave (PFL) benefits. Maximum weekly benefit is $1,765/week (2026), with replacement rates of 70-90% of wages depending on income tier. Last updated May 2026.

How California SDI Works in 2026

Every California W-2 employee pays 1.3% of all wages — there is no taxable wage ceiling, meaning a worker earning $300,000 pays $3,900/year while a worker earning $50,000 pays $650/year. The deduction funds two benefits: State Disability Insurance (DI) for non-work-related illness or injury, and Paid Family Leave (PFL) for bonding with a new child or caring for a seriously ill family member. The maximum weekly benefit is capped at $1,765 in 2026 per the CA EDD.

Weekly Benefit Calculation (70-90% Replacement)

Benefits are calculated from your highest-earning quarter in the 5-18 months before your claim begins. Workers earning roughly 70% of the State Average Quarterly Wage (about $929/week or less in 2026) receive 90% wage replacement. Workers above that threshold receive 70%. Both tiers are capped at $1,765/week. Source: California EDD SDI and PFL benefit charts.

PFL: 8 Weeks Bonding or Family Care

Paid Family Leave provides up to 8 weeks of partial wage replacement per 12-month period. Common uses include bonding with a newborn or newly adopted child, or caring for a seriously ill family member (child, spouse, parent, parent-in-law, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, or designated person). PFL does not provide job protection — that comes from CFRA, FMLA, or PDL laws separately. At the max $1,765/week, an 8-week PFL claim pays up to $14,120.

Common California SDI Mistakes to Avoid

(1) Assuming there's still a wage cap — SB 951 removed it for 2024+. High earners pay 1.3% on full wages. (2) Confusing SDI with FMLA — SDI pays money, FMLA protects your job. You usually need both. (3) Missing the 7-day waiting period — DI claims have a 7-day unpaid waiting period; PFL does not. (4) Forgetting tax treatment — SDI benefits are not taxable income in California; PFL benefits ARE federally taxable.

California SDI Rate History: Why 2026 Is 1.3%, Not 1.1%

The California SDI employee contribution rate is 1.3% for 2026, up from 1.2% in 2025 and 1.1% in 2024. The rate has climbed every year since Senate Bill 951 removed the taxable wage ceiling on 1 January 2024 and raised wage replacement to 70–90%; the EDD sets the rate annually to fund those richer benefits. If a payroll calculator or an older article still shows 1.1%, it is quoting the 2024 figure and will understate your deduction by roughly 18%. On $120,000 of wages the difference is $1,560 at the 2026 rate versus $1,320 at the 2024 rate — a $240 annual gap. Current rates are published by the California EDD. Updated 2026-08-03.

How Your SDI Weekly Benefit Amount Is Actually Calculated

Your weekly benefit is not based on your current paycheck. The EDD uses a base period — the 5 to 18 months before your claim start date — and pays 70–90% of the wages in your highest-earning quarter of that period. Lower earners get the 90% tier; higher earners get 70%, and everyone is capped at the 2026 maximum of $1,765 per week (minimum $50). Two consequences catch people out: a recent raise will not lift your benefit because it falls outside the base period, and a spell of unemployment inside the base period can pull your benefit down even if you are earning well now. Disability claims also carry a 7-day unpaid waiting period; PFL claims do not. See the EDD benefit calculation rules. Updated 2026-08-03.