2019 state-mandated short-term disability contributions and benefits
Five states — California, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island — and Puerto Rico require employees to receive short-term disability coverage. Four of these states (California, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island) also require paid family leave benefits. New York’s and Puerto Rico’s disability benefits are set by statute, but all other states annually adjust their programs’ contribution and benefit levels. Key 2019 contribution and benefit amounts are summarized below. You can download the full article for a chart outlining key features of each jurisdiction’s disability program.
Highlights of 2019 State Disability rates
California. The State Disability Insurance (SDI) taxable wage base is $118,371 in 2019, an increase from $114,967 in 2018. The employee contribution rate, which includes Paid Family Leave, will remain at 1% in 2019. The 2019 maximum weekly benefit of $1,252 has increased from the 2018 maximum of $1,216.
Hawaii. The 2019 Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) weekly wage base is $1,088.08, up from $1,068.62 in 2018. The law permits employee contributions of up to half the premium or, if less, 0.5% of the weekly wage base with a maximum weekly contribution of $5.44. The 2019 maximum weekly benefit is $632, an increase from $620 in 2018.
New Jersey. The 2019 taxable wage base is $34,400, up from $33,700 in 2018, for both Temporary Disability Benefits (TDB) and Family Leave Insurance (FLI). The worker contribution rate for TDB is 0.17% in 2019, a decrease from the 2018 rate of 0.19%. The 2019 FLI contribution rate of 0.08% has decreased from the 2018 rate of 0.09%. The 2019 maximum weekly benefit for each program is $650, up from $637 in 2018.
New York. The Disability Benefits Law (DBL) permits employee contributions at the rate of 0.5% of wages to a maximum of $0.60 per week. The maximum benefit allowance for any disability is $170 a week. These statutory amounts have remained unchanged since May 1989 and are distinct from the state’s annually adjusted paid family leave (PFL) benefit, which debuted last year. The worker contribution rate for PFL in 2019 is 0.153% of the employee’s weekly wage, up to $1,357.11 (the state’s 2018 average weekly wage) for a maximum annual contribution of $107.97. The weekly PFL benefit is 55% of an employee’s average weekly wage up to a maximum of $746.41 for up to 10 weeks in 2019.
Puerto Rico. The disability law permits employee contributions at the rate of 0.3% of wages up to $9,000. The maximum weekly benefit is $113 ($55 for agricultural workers). These statutory amounts haven’t changed since July 1972.
Rhode Island. The 2019 taxable wage base is $71,000, up from $69,300 in 2018, for combined TDI and Temporary Caregiver Insurance. The 2019 employee contribution rate remains at 1.1%. The maximum weekly benefit is $852 for benefit years beginning on or after July 1, 2018.