California SDI Calculator

What is a California SDI Calculator?

A California SDI Calculator estimates the weekly Disability Insurance benefit that may apply to a California claim beginning in 2026. It uses the CASDI-covered gross wages paid during the four quarters of the standard base period and identifies the highest-earning quarter.

The main result is the estimated weekly DI benefit before reductions. The calculator also displays the standard base period used, highest-quarter CASDI wages, total base-period CASDI wages, and whether the entered wages meet the $300 base-period wage threshold.

This version is a standard-base-period estimate only. It does not determine eligibility, use an alternate or special base period, or calculate the final payment issued by the Employment Development Department. For a broader estimate based on disability-related inputs, use the California Disability Benefits Calculator.

How to Use the California SDI Calculator

Enter gross wages that were subject to CASDI. Do not enter the SDI tax withheld from your paycheck.

Step 1: Select When the Disability Begins

Choose the quarter in 2026 when the disability begins:

• January–March 2026
• April–June 2026
• July–September 2026
• October–December 2026

The selected quarter determines which four completed calendar quarters appear as the standard base period. The calculator uses the first four of the five completed quarters before the claim-start quarter.

Step 2: Enter CASDI Gross Wages for Each Quarter

Enter the CASDI-covered gross wages paid in each of the four displayed quarters. Use the amount paid during the quarter, even if the work connected to those wages occurred earlier.

Enter 0 for any displayed quarter in which no CASDI-covered wages were paid. Each entry must be zero or a positive dollar amount.

Step 3: Calculate the Estimate

Select Calculate. The calculator totals all four quarters, finds the highest-quarter wages, checks the $300 base-period minimum, and applies its 2026 weekly benefit table.

Use Reset to clear the wage entries and return the disability-beginning selection to January–March 2026.

How the California SDI Benefit Is Calculated

The calculator first adds the four entered wage amounts:

Total base-period CASDI wages = Quarter 1 + Quarter 2 + Quarter 3 + Quarter 4

It then selects the largest entry:

Highest-quarter CASDI wages = Highest of the four quarterly wage amounts

If total base-period CASDI wages are below $300, the estimated weekly benefit is $0. Meeting this wage test does not by itself establish claim eligibility.

When the $300 total-wage threshold is met, the calculator applies these 2026 rules to the highest-quarter wages:

• Up to $722.49: $50 weekly benefit
• $722.50 to $16,264.44: highest-quarter wages × 90% ÷ 13, rounded up to the next whole dollar
• $16,264.45 to $20,931.30: $1,127 weekly benefit
• Above $20,931.30: highest-quarter wages × 70% ÷ 13, rounded up to the next whole dollar, with a $1,765 maximum

Dividing quarterly wages by 13 produces an estimated average weekly wage. The exact thresholds and whole-dollar benefit amounts follow the official 2026 EDD weekly benefit table.

SDI and unemployment are different programs with different benefit calculations. Use the California Unemployment Benefits Calculator for an unemployment estimate, or read How to Calculate Unemployment in California for that calculation’s wage rules.

California SDI Calculation Example

Suppose the disability begins during January–March 2026. The calculator displays this standard base period and receives the following CASDI gross wages:

• October–December 2024: $11,000
• January–March 2025: $12,000
• April–June 2025: $14,000
• July–September 2025: $15,000

First, add the four quarters:

$11,000 + $12,000 + $14,000 + $15,000 = $52,000

The highest-quarter CASDI wages are $15,000. This amount falls within the calculator’s 90% range, so the calculation is:

$15,000 × 90% ÷ 13 = $1,038.46

The calculator rounds the weekly amount up to the next whole dollar:

Estimated weekly DI benefit = $1,039

The displayed results are:

• Estimated weekly DI benefit before reductions: $1,039.00
• Base period: October–December 2024 through July–September 2025
• Highest-quarter CASDI wages: $15,000.00
• Total base-period CASDI wages: $52,000.00
• Base-period wage check: $300 wage threshold met; eligibility not determined

These figures exactly match the calculator for the example entries.

What the Result Does Not Include

The result is not an EDD eligibility decision or payment guarantee. It does not evaluate medical certification, employment status, claim filing dates, or other program requirements.

The calculator excludes alternate and special base periods, elective coverage, voluntary plans, part-time work adjustments, waiting days, deductions, offsets, benefit reductions, and the maximum amount payable over an entire claim. It also does not calculate the CASDI payroll contribution withheld from wages.

Paid Family Leave can use related wage information but is not calculated here. For pregnancy and bonding-time planning, use the California Maternity Leave Calculator separately.

For more state-specific tools, visit California Calculator.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Do not enter the CASDI deduction shown on a pay stub. Enter gross wages subject to CASDI.

Do not combine all wages into one quarter. Enter each amount in the quarter when it was paid.

Do not leave a quarter blank when no wages were paid; enter zero.

Choose the correct disability-beginning quarter because it changes all four base-period labels.

Do not treat the $300 wage check as confirmation that the claim is eligible.

Do not interpret the weekly estimate as the total value of a claim or the exact payment after reductions.

FAQs

Q1: What wages should I enter in the California SDI Calculator?
A: Enter gross wages paid during each displayed quarter that were subject to CASDI withholding.

Q2: Should I enter the SDI tax deducted from my paycheck?
A: No. Enter CASDI-covered gross wages, not the payroll tax withheld.

Q3: What happens if my total base-period wages are below $300?
A: The calculator displays a $0 weekly estimate because its minimum base-period wage test is not met.

Q4: Why does the calculator use my highest quarter?
A: Its 2026 weekly benefit calculation is based on the highest CASDI-covered wage quarter within the standard base period.

Q5: Does meeting the $300 wage threshold guarantee benefits?
A: No. It only passes the calculator’s wage check. EDD determines actual eligibility and payment amounts.

Q6: Does the calculator support an alternate base period?
A: No. This version uses only the standard base period generated from the selected 2026 disability-beginning quarter.