What Does CASDI Mean on My Paycheck, and Did I Pay Into SDI?
A simple explanation of how California EDD reviews CASDI-covered wages, previous jobs, and your base period.
Quick Answer: What Does CASDI Mean on My Paycheck?
To meet the basic wage requirement for a California Disability Insurance claim, you generally must have earned at least $300 in wages during your applicable base period, and those wages must have been subject to State Disability Insurance withholding.
This deduction is commonly shown as CASDI, CA SDI, or SDI on a paystub.
Important: You do not need to have paid $300 in CASDI taxes. The $300 requirement refers to your qualifying wages—not the amount deducted from your paycheck.
What Does EDD Check for California SDI Eligibility?
When you apply for California Disability Insurance, the California Employment Development Department (EDD) generally looks at four wage-related factors:
When your disability began
Your claim start date is generally the date your disability began—not the date you submitted your application.
Which 12-month base period applies
Your claim start date determines the specific 12-month period EDD will review.
Whether you earned at least $300 in qualifying wages
Those wages must have been subject to California State Disability Insurance withholding.
Which quarter had your highest earnings
If you meet the eligibility requirements, EDD generally uses the three-month quarter with your highest qualifying wages to calculate your weekly benefit amount.
Meeting the $300 wage requirement does not mean that every applicant receives the same benefit amount.
What Does CASDI Mean on My Paycheck?
CASDI stands for California State Disability Insurance. It is an employee payroll deduction that helps fund California’s Disability Insurance and Paid Family Leave programs.
Depending on the employer or payroll company, the deduction may appear on a paystub as:
- CASDI
- CA SDI
- SDI
- California Disability
Look at the deductions section of your paystub—not only your taxes or year-to-date earnings.
What Is the SDI Base Period?
The base period is the specific 12-month window EDD uses to review your qualifying wages.
It generally includes wages paid approximately 5 to 18 months before your disability claim began. This means that your newest or most recent wages may not be included.
California disability base period for claims beginning on or after January 1, 2026
| If your disability begins during: | EDD generally uses the 12 months ending: |
|---|---|
| January, February, or March | The previous September 30 |
| April, May, or June | The previous December 31 |
| July, August, or September | The previous March 31 |
| October, November, or December | The previous June 30 |
Example
Suppose your disability begins on August 10, 2026. Because the disability begins during July, August, or September, the applicable standard base period would generally be:
April 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026
EDD would review the qualifying SDI-covered wages paid during that period.
Do Wages From a Previous Job Count?
Yes. You do not have to work for your current employer for a minimum number of months to meet the wage requirement.
Qualifying wages may come from:
- • Your current employer
- • A previous employer
- • More than one employer
- • Full-time employment
- • Part-time employment
The important questions are:
- • Were the wages paid during the applicable base period?
- • Were the wages subject to California SDI withholding?
Changing employers does not automatically prevent you from qualifying.
Do Wages From Multiple Jobs Count?
Qualifying wages from multiple jobs may count when the wages fall within your base period and the employers withheld California SDI.
When completing an application, the applicant should accurately report each applicable employer and the requested employment information. Our step-by-step guide to applying for California SDI explains what EDD asks for.
How Much CASDI Must I Have Paid?
There is not a general requirement that you personally paid a specific dollar amount in California State Disability Insurance contributions.
The basic wage requirement is generally at least $300 in base-period wages from which California SDI was withheld.
For example, someone who earned $5,000 in qualifying wages would not need to show that $300 was deducted for CASDI. EDD looks at the qualifying wages—not whether the tax deduction itself reached $300.
Why Might My Most Recent Wages Not Count?
EDD does not simply review the most recent 12 months before an application is submitted.
The base period is determined by the quarter in which the disability began. Because of this system, wages paid immediately before or during the disability may fall outside the standard base period.
Your application date and your disability start date are not the same thing. Your disability start date determines your base period.
What If I Do Not See CASDI on My Paystub?
Possible explanations include:
- • The employer used a different label for the deduction
- • The employment was exempt from California SDI withholding
- • The employer provided an approved Voluntary Plan instead of the state plan
- • The work was performed as an independent contractor rather than as covered employment
- • The employee worked in another state or under a different payroll arrangement
Review your paystubs, W-2 forms, or payroll records, and contact your employer’s payroll or human-resources department when necessary. The absence of the exact word “CASDI” does not automatically mean that someone is ineligible.
Are There Exceptions to the Standard Base Period?
In limited circumstances, a person may be able to request a special base period if the standard base period was negatively affected by circumstances such as military service, an industrial disability, a trade dispute, or long-term unemployment.
These situations are handled individually. Contact the California Employment Development Department for official guidance about a special base period.
Does Paying CASDI Guarantee Approval?
No. Having sufficient CASDI-covered wages only addresses the wage-contribution portion of eligibility.
An applicant must also meet EDD’s other requirements, which generally include:
- • Being unable to perform their regular work for at least eight days
- • Losing wages because of the disability
- • Working or looking for work when the disability began
- • Remaining under the care and treatment of a qualified healthcare practitioner
- • Having the disability properly certified
- • Submitting the required claim information within EDD’s filing requirements
EDD—not Work Leave Care—makes the final decision regarding eligibility, claim approval, and benefit amounts, but we will do everything we can to make sure you get the support you need on our end.
Simple Three-Step Check
Find your disability start date
Use the date your disability began, not simply the date you plan to apply.
Identify your base period
Use the calendar-quarter table above to find the applicable 12-month period.
Review your qualifying wages
Check whether you earned at least $300 during that period from employment where California SDI was withheld.
Meeting this test may satisfy the wage requirement, but you must still meet EDD’s remaining eligibility requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not Sure What Your Next Step Should Be?
Work Leave Care provides confidential mental health evaluations and treatment for eligible California adults who may need time away from work to focus on recovery.
Submitting a pre-screening does not guarantee SDI eligibility or approval. EDD makes all benefit determinations.
Related Reading
Official Sources
- Am I Eligible for Disability Insurance Benefits? (California EDD)
- Disability Insurance Benefit Payment Amounts (California EDD)
- Disability Insurance Eligibility FAQs (California EDD)
Last reviewed: August 2026
This guide provides general educational information and is not legal advice, financial advice, or a guarantee of benefits. EDD rules and benefit calculations may change. Consult the California EDD for official information about your individual claim.