Is CASDI the Same as SDI in California?

State Disability Insurance (SDI) programs offer a financial safety net for workers who experience temporary wage loss due to non-work-related disabilities or family leave. These programs operate at the state level, meaning their specific rules, benefits, and administration can vary significantly across different states. In California, the system designed to provide this wage replacement is known as California State Disability Insurance, frequently appearing as “CASDI” or “CA SDI” on pay stubs and official documents.

Understanding State Disability Insurance (SDI)

State Disability Insurance (SDI) is a government-mandated program providing partial wage replacement to eligible employees. Its primary purpose is to support individuals who are temporarily unable to work due to a non-work-related illness, injury, or pregnancy. Funding for these programs typically comes from mandatory employee payroll deductions, which are automatically withheld from wages. Each state with an SDI program establishes its own specific criteria for eligibility, benefit calculation, and duration.

These state-level programs ensure that workers have financial support during periods when they cannot perform their regular duties, helping to maintain economic stability. The benefits cover a range of situations that prevent an individual from working, distinct from workers’ compensation which addresses job-related injuries.

Clarifying California State Disability Insurance (CASDI)

California State Disability Insurance, often referred to as CASDI or CA SDI, is California’s specific State Disability Insurance program. The “CA” prefix simply denotes “California,” clarifying that it is the state’s version of the broader SDI concept. This program has been in effect since 1946, providing short-term disability income replacement.

The California program encompasses two main components: Disability Insurance (DI) and Paid Family Leave (PFL). DI provides benefits for an individual’s own non-work-related illness, injury, or pregnancy, including childbirth. PFL offers wage replacement for those taking time off to care for a seriously ill family member, bond with a new child through birth, adoption, or foster care, or participate in a qualifying event related to a family member’s military deployment. The California Employment Development Department (EDD) administers the entire CASDI program.

Program Features and Administration

Eligibility for California’s SDI program requires individuals to meet several criteria. A worker must be unable to perform their regular or customary work for at least eight consecutive days and have lost wages due to this condition. Additionally, they must have earned at least $300 from which SDI deductions were withheld during their base period. Being under the care and treatment of a licensed physician or practitioner within the first eight days of disability is also a requirement.

Benefits are calculated based on a percentage of wages earned during the highest-paid quarter of the individual’s base period. For claims beginning on or after January 1, 2025, benefits range from 70% to 90% of wages, with lower-income earners receiving the higher percentage. The maximum weekly benefit amount for 2025 is $1,681, while the minimum is $50 per week. Disability Insurance (DI) benefits can be received for up to 52 weeks, and Paid Family Leave (PFL) benefits are available for up to eight weeks within any 12-month period.

The CASDI program is funded entirely through employee payroll deductions, which appear as “CASDI” or “CA SDI” on pay stubs. As of 2025, the employee contribution rate is 1.2% of wages, and a significant change effective 2024 eliminated the taxable wage cap, meaning all wages are now subject to SDI taxation. Employers are responsible for withholding these contributions and reporting them to the EDD. Applications for benefits can be submitted online through SDI Online or by mail.