January 21, 2021

December 2020 Pay Period - Employee Contributions for State Disability Insurance (SDI) Program

Action Required by Department: Share the following information with all departmental human resources office employees. 

Description: As stated in Payroll Letter #20-030 dated December 24, 2020, the Employment Development Department (EDD) recently published the new 2021 State Disability Insurance (SDI) rates. For 2021, the withholding rate increased to from 1.0% to 1.20% of eligible earnings. The annual taxable wage limit increased to $128,298.00 per employee with a maximum contribution of $1,539.58. This change took effect beginning with payments issued on January 1, 2021.  

Due to the timing of this change, and our monthly table maintenance cutoff date in the Uniform State Payroll System, the increase of 0.2% was not withheld from employees’ December 2020 pay period income, issued January 1, 2021.  For those employees impacted, an Agency Collection Accounts Receivable (A/R) will be established during the January 22, 2021, daily cycle for the December 2020 pay period, to withhold 0.2% for SDI.  This will have no impact to employees currently participating, or who plan to participate, in the EDD’s  State Disability Insurance Program. 

Departments can refer to Section I of the State Controller’s Office Payroll Procedures Manual for the A/R Business Process. 

Contacts:

Statewide Customer Contact Center (916) 372-7200

Deductions Program: Deductionsprogram@sco.ca.gov

HR Suggestions Email (All HR Staff) PPSDHRSuggestions@sco.ca.gov

CS Escalation Email (HR Supervisors and Managers)  PPSDOps@sco.ca.gov

Cal Employee Connect Email connecthelp@sco.ca.gov

Cal Employee Connect Feedback Email connectfeedback@sco.ca.gov 

SCO Key Initiatives:  

Cal Employee Connect Project 

CalATERS Replacement Project 

California State Payroll System Project


Consolidated Benefits (CoBen) Program Allowance Correction – Update

Action Required by Department: Share the following information with all departmental human resources office employees. 

Date Incident Identified: December 31, 2020 

Description: As communicated in our January 8, 2021 Broadcast Email, incorrect Co-Ben Allowance amounts were issued for the December 2020 pay period. The employee records are being identified and corrected for the January 2021 pay period. December payment adjustments will be issued as quickly as possible by the State Controller's Office (SCO). The initial resolution date was January 26, 2021. However, the SCO has experienced a delay and anticipates the incident to be resolved on or before February 5, 2021. 

Population Affected: Approximately 3,500 Civil Service Exempt and Excluded employees tied to Service Employees International Union (SEIU) that had Flex Cash amounts of $130 or $155 cancelled for the July 2020 pay period and subsequently enrolled in a health plan during open enrollment effective January 1, 2021.  

Status: In progress 

Revised Date Incident to be Resolved: February 5, 2021 

Contacts:

Statewide Customer Contact Center (916) 372-7200

Deductions Program: Deductionsprogram@sco.ca.gov

HR Suggestions Email (All HR Staff) PPSDHRSuggestions@sco.ca.gov

CS Escalation Email (HR Supervisors and Managers)  PPSDOps@sco.ca.gov

Cal Employee Connect Email connecthelp@sco.ca.gov

Cal Employee Connect Feedback Email connectfeedback@sco.ca.gov 

SCO Key Initiatives:  

Cal Employee Connect Project 

CalATERS Replacement Project 

California State Payroll System Project