Most California employees have a small part of their income taken out of their paychecks for State Disability Insurance (SDI). This money goes into a state fund. If you have paid into the fund and can’t work because of a disability not related to your job, SDI takes money from the fund and pays you a benefit. The idea is to replace income you’re losing while you can’t work. The SDI program also replaces income you lose when you can’t work because of pregnancy, or take time off to care for a sick relative or bond with a new child.