Hawaii Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI)
What Is HI Temporary Disability Insurance?
Hawaii’s Temporary Disability Insurance (HI TDI) program is a state‑mandated program that provides eligible employees with replacement income for qualifying personal disabilities for up to 26 weeks for any one period of disability.
Eligible reasons for HI TDI benefits include:
- Employee who is unable to perform the regular duties of their position due to an off-the-job illness or injury.
- Pregnancy and/or childbirth
- Organ donation
- There is a 7-day unpaid waiting period for each new disability claim
- Recurrency period is available if a claim needs to be reopened within 2 weeks for the same or related injury or illness.
Hawaii does not have a paid family leave law, however, they have been working towards expanding their disability benefit law to include paid family leaves. The DBL Center will continue to monitor this action and present employers informed with any changes or law enhancements.
What Is The Weekly Paid Benefit Under HI TDI?
In 2026, the maximum weekly benefit is: $871.00
HI TDI maximum weekly benefits are subject to change and announced annually in December.
The benefit calculation for HI TDI is:
- Calculate the employee’s average weekly wage (AWW)
- All wages in the base year divided by 52 weeks.
- Calculate weekly benefit
| 2026 Max Weekly Benefit $871 | Example: $1,500/week gross pay |
|
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | 58% AWW | $870 |
| Weekly Benefit | Is either 58% or max weekly benefit 2026 maximum $871 | $870.00 |
Is HI TDI Job‑Protected?
No. But the benefit may run concurrently with Federal FMLA – Family & Medical Leave Act depending on employee eligibility.
Which Employers Are Required To Provide HI TDI?
Every employer in the state of Hawaii is required to provide HI TDI benefits including the state and political subdivisions to its covered employees.
This requirement includes businesses with:
- Employees working in Hawaii
- Remote workers whose work is based in Hawaii
It does not include:
- The federal government
How Much Does HI TDI Cost?
Unlike other states, Hawaii relies on private insurance to support their disability benefits. They set the benefit and employee contribution rates each December.
| Year | Base Wage | Employee Payroll Contribution Rate | Max Weekly Payroll Cap | Employee Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1,500.21 | 0.50% | $7.50 | $390.05 |
What Is A HI TDI Private Plan?
Hawaii recognizes the value of private insurance to support their disability benefit laws. The DBL Center works with a network of approved private plan carriers that offer compliant and cost‑effective solutions. Their state law requires that all claims are processed within the state and therefore our trusted carriers ensure that their coverage aligns with all state regulations.
How Do I Apply For A Private Plan?
The DBL Center team supports both you and your clients throughout the entire private plan process.
Step 1: Request a Private Plan Quote
We compare private plan pricing, benefits, and service levels for basic coverage.
Required census details include:
- All Hawaii employees including remote workers
- Gender
- Employment status (full‑time, part‑time, seasonal)
- Individual’s age
- Total Hawaii wages (including overtime and bonuses)
Step 2: Select an Insurance Carrier
- A HI TDI policy will be issued.
Step 3: Apply for the State Private Plan Approval
- Hawaii allows the insurance carrier to apply for the HI TDI private plan approval on your behalf.
- Best Practice – HI TDI private plans are effective the 1st of the new month and cannot be back dated without state approval. As a best practice, we recommend submitting your private plan approximately 30 days before the plan effective date. For example:
| January 1 | March 1 | July 1 | September 1 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private Plan application submission | December 1 | February 1 | June 1 | August 1 |
| Private plan Effective date | January 1 | March 1 | July 1 | September 1 |
Why Choose DBL Center?
The DBL Center offers 40 years of experience in state‑mandated disability and leave programs. Let us be your trusted partner for navigating complex TDI requirements on behalf of our clients.
We provide:
- Access to competitive, compliant private plan options
- Expert support for the broker and clients due to the state mandated enhancements to their program that may impact workers and/or claims.
- Strategic views of state mandated benefits
- Ongoing service and support beyond the initial sale, through implementations and renewals
- Net Revenue Tracker enabling Broker access to their renewals, cancellations and book of business from anywhere.
Our goal is to deliver cost‑effective solutions with a seamless experience for both employers and employees.