Key takeaways
- Enter your claim start date and quarterly wages to estimate your 2026 weekly benefit for Disability Insurance or Paid Family Leave.
- DI and PFL use the same brackets, from $50 a week up to the 2026 maximum of $1,765, at about 70% to 90% of your weekly wages.
- DI can pay for up to 52 weeks after a 7-day wait; PFL pays up to 8 weeks with no waiting period.
Estimate your weekly benefit for State Disability Insurance (DI) or Paid Family Leave (PFL) in 2026. Both programs use the same benefit brackets, so one estimate covers both.
Enter your gross wages in each quarter of the base period (wages with SDI deducted, shown as CASDI on pay stubs).
Estimate only, using EDD's 2026 benefit brackets. EDD calculates your official amount. Nothing you enter leaves your browser.
How the calculator works
EDD bases your benefit on your highest-paid quarter in the base period (wages earned roughly 5 to 18 months before your claim starts). The calculator uses EDD's 2026 brackets:
| Highest-quarter wages | 2026 weekly benefit |
|---|---|
| Less than $300 | Not eligible |
| $300 to $722.49 | $50 |
| $722.50 to $16,279.90 | 90% of your weekly wages |
| $16,279.91 to $20,931.30 | $1,127 |
| $20,931.31 or more | 70% of your weekly wages, up to $1,765 |
"Weekly wages" means your highest-quarter wages divided by 13, the number of weeks in a quarter. That's the conversion that makes EDD's bracket edges line up: 90% of $16,279.90 ÷ 13 and 70% of $20,931.31 ÷ 13 both come to $1,127.
You also need at least $300 in wages subject to SDI in the base period.
Worked example
You earned $12,000 in your highest quarter.
| Step | Result |
|---|---|
| Weekly wages | $12,000 ÷ 13 = $923.08 |
| Bracket | $722.50 to $16,279.90, so 90% |
| Weekly benefit | 90% × $923.08 ≈ $831 |
| Paid Family Leave, full 8 weeks | 8 × $831 = $6,648 |
Before you rely on the estimate
- EDD calculates your official amount from the wages your employers reported. Check the notice EDD sends after you file.
- DI has a 7-day unpaid waiting period; PFL has none.
- File on time. DI claims are due within 49 days of the disability starting; PFL claims within 41 days of the leave starting.
- Benefits don't protect your job. Job protection comes from other laws. See the Paid Family Leave guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much does SDI pay in California in 2026?
SDI pays about 70% to 90% of your weekly wages, from $50 to a maximum of $1,765 a week for 2026 claims. Lower earners get the higher percentage.
Is Paid Family Leave calculated the same way as SDI?
Yes. EDD publishes the same 2026 bracket table for Paid Family Leave and Disability Insurance, so your weekly amount is the same for either claim.
What wages count toward my SDI benefit?
Wages subject to SDI deductions in your base period, roughly 5 to 18 months before your claim start date. They show as "CASDI" on most pay stubs. The calculator lists the four quarters for the date you enter.
What if I earn more than $20,931 a quarter?
Your benefit is 70% of your weekly wages, capped at $1,765 a week. Earnings above about $32,779 in a quarter don't increase the benefit further.
Is this an official EDD calculator?
No. It's an independent estimate based on EDD's published 2026 brackets. EDD also offers an official calculator. Nothing you enter here leaves your browser.
Sources
We use primary sources: statutes, court rules, official forms and government pages. Read our editorial standards.