How Much Are Disability Benefits in California?

Written by

Jackie Jakab

Lead Attorney

January 29, 2024 · 3 min read

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According to the Social Security Administration, more than 500,000 Californians receive disability benefits. If you’re a California resident and you’re too sick or injured to work, you may be eligible to receive financial assistance and healthcare coverage.

California is one of five states with a State Disability Insurance program to provide short-term, partial-wage benefits for people with disabilities. For long-term benefits, individuals can also apply for federal benefits through the Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

Your benefit payment amount depends on which program you qualify for. In this article, we’ll break down the payment calculations and share the maximum amounts for each program.

How much are disability benefits in California?

The payment amount you can receive for disability benefits in California depends on the program you qualify for. Several factors, like your job history, earnings, and how serious your medical condition is, determine the amount of money you can get.

The minimum amount you can receive is $50 per week with State Disability Insurance, and the maximum you may qualify for is $3,822 per month with Social Security Disability Income.

California disability pay chart

Benefits Program	Average Payment Amount in CA	Maximum Payment Amount	Duration
State Disability Insurance	60-70% of your wages	$1,620 per week	52 weeks
Supplemental Security Income	$578.62 per month	$943 per month	Indefinite/until retirement age
Social Security Disability Income	$1,524.99 per month	$3,822 per month	Indefinite/until retirement age

How are state disability benefits calculated?

The amount of benefits you can receive through California’s State Disability Insurance program depends on your earnings history and the amount of SDI taxes you’ve paid during a specific period.

Your start claim, or the day your disability began, determines what is called your "base period." The state will look at your base period and the wages subject to SDI tax that were paid 5 to 18 months before your disability began.

The state will use your highest quarterly earnings within the base period to determine your payment amount.

California DI benefits pay chart

Highest Quarterly Earnings	Weekly Benefit Amount
Less than $929	$50
Between $929 and $7,154.32	Approximately 70% of your earnings
More than $7,154.32	Approximately 60% of your earnings

Can you receive state and federal benefits at the same time?

No, it is not likely that you will receive state and federal benefits simultaneously. In California, the State Disability Insurance (DI) program offers benefits for a maximum of 52 weeks.

If you expect your condition to last longer than a year, it’s a good idea to also apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to continue receiving benefits.

It can take two years or more to be approved for these federal programs, so it is unlikely that your state and Social Security benefits would overlap. For additional assistance during this waiting period, check out our resources guide.

The Social Security Administration uses a formula to determine your monthly benefit payment amount. In short, your SSDI benefits amount is based on the money you paid into Social Security taxes while working.

The SSA will review your work history and average your monthly earnings from the highest-earning years, and adjust for inflation. Next, the SSA uses your Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME) to calculate your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), which is separated into three “slices.” This is where things get complicated — you can read more about the SSDI calculation here.

The simplest way to verify your technical eligibility and see your estimated payment amount is to create a mySocial Security account on SSA.gov or use our benefits estimator:

Estimate your disability benefit amount in just a few steps

We'll use the Social Security Administration's formula to estimate your monthly benefit.

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monthly check

$1,489

How is Supplemental Security Income calculated in California?

The Social Security Administration calculates SSI payments on a need basis rather than your earnings history. The SSA will subtract your countable income from a set federal benefit rate, which adjusts annually for inflation. In 2024, the federal benefit rate is $943.

If your countable income is less than the federal benefit rate, you should receive the full amount. If you receive other benefits, like food stamps, the SSA will subtract those benefits from your monthly SSI check. For example, if you receive $291 in food stamps, your SSI amount will be $652 ($943 - $291). To learn more about countable income and SSI calculations, read an in-depth guide: How Is SSI Calculated?

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How to qualify for disability benefits in California

California’s State Disability Insurance program offers benefits to residents unable to work because of a non-work-related injury or illness. To qualify for DI benefits, you must be unable to work your customary job for at least eight days. During this time, you need to receive medical care or treatment from a licensed physician or accredited religious practitioner.

If you have a medical condition that will prevent you from working for more than a year, you may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). To qualify, you must meet the work history requirements. If you’ve worked five out of the last ten years, you’ll likely qualify.

If you have limited income and little to no work history, you may qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). This program is need-based, and there are specific resources and income limits.

Learn more about qualifying for DI, SSDI, and SSI benefits in California.

How much does a disability lawyer cost in California?

There are no upfront costs to working with a disability lawyer. Disability attorneys operate on a contingency basis, so you only pay your lawyer when the SSA approves your disability claim.

You begin with a free consultation, and then you can sign a contingency fee agreement if you choose to work with a lawyer. Once the SSA approved your claim, the lawyer will get 25% of your first benefit payment, capped at $7,200 by law.