On Thursday, March 12th, California Governor Gavin Newsom issued a new executive order enhancing benefits for employees diagnosed with COVID-19. Those individuals who are unable to work due to having been exposed to COVID-19 will now have the 7-day waiting period waived for disability and unemployment insurance. CA SDI provides short-term benefit payments to eligible workers who have a full or partial loss of wages due to a non-work-related illness, injury, or pregnancy. Benefit amounts are approximately 60-70 percent of wages (depending on income) and range from $50-$1,300 a week.
Please note that SDI claims are accepted for both being diagnosed and being exposed to COVID-19 (as certified by a medical professional). For more information, please see the CA-SDI website here: https://edd.ca.gov/about_edd/coronavirus-2019.htm
If you have questions about this change as it relates to your employees and your private disability contracts, please reach out to your Vita representative.
