Hawaii’s Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) program replaces part of your wages when a non-work-related injury, illness, pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, or organ donation keeps you off the job. To qualify, you generally need at least 14 weeks of Hawaii employment in the year before your disability, current or very recent employment when it starts, and a licensed provider’s certification that you cannot do your regular work. Benefits pay 58% of your average weekly wage, capped at $871 per week in 2026, for up to 26 weeks. The program runs under Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 392 and is overseen by the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR).
Who Qualifies for TDI
Three things have to line up: your work history, your employment status when the disability begins, and a medical certification.
Work History
You need at least 14 weeks of Hawaii employment during the 52 weeks before your disability started. In each of those weeks, you must have worked at least 20 hours and earned at least $400.1Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Frequently Asked Questions About Temporary Disability Insurance The weeks don’t have to be consecutive, and they can be spread across different employers.
Employment Status
You must be in current employment when the disability begins. If you recently left a job, you still qualify as long as your disability started within two weeks of your last day of work.1Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Frequently Asked Questions About Temporary Disability Insurance
Medical Certification
A licensed health care provider has to certify that your condition prevents you from performing your regular job duties. Hawaii accepts certification from physicians, surgeons, dentists, chiropractors, osteopaths, naturopaths, physician assistants, advanced practice registered nurses, and accredited practitioners of faith-healing groups.1Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Frequently Asked Questions About Temporary Disability Insurance
What TDI Covers
TDI covers disabilities caused by accidents, illnesses, pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, and organ donation, as long as the condition is not related to your job.2Justia. Hawaii Revised Statutes 392-21 – Establishment of Temporary Disability Benefits Pregnancy has been covered since 1969.3State of Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. About Temporary Disability Insurance Your benefit period for pregnancy depends on what your physician certifies; for an uncomplicated delivery, doctors typically certify six to eight weeks, and complications or a cesarean can extend that.
If your injury or illness arose out of your job, it belongs under workers’ compensation, not TDI, and you cannot collect both benefits for the same condition at the same time. If your workers’ comp claim is disputed and you’re not receiving any payments, you can file a TDI claim in the meantime. If the workers’ comp claim is later approved, the TDI carrier can recover what it paid out of those benefits.4State of Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Frequently Asked Questions
Who Is Not Covered
Most employees in Hawaii are covered, but Chapter 392 excludes several categories of work from the definition of “employment”:
- Domestic workers earning less than $225 in cash wages from a single employer during any calendar quarter.
- Work performed for a spouse, a parent (if the worker is under 21), or an adult child.
- Certain fishing and aquaculture crew members on small vessels, with exceptions for larger commercial operations.
- Federal government employees, who are covered under federal systems instead.
Self-employed people and independent contractors are also outside the program.5FindLaw. Hawaii Revised Statutes 392-5 – Excluded Services
How Much You’ll Receive
Your weekly benefit is 58% of your average weekly wage, rounded up to the next whole dollar.1Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Frequently Asked Questions About Temporary Disability Insurance For 2026, that amount is capped at $871 per week, and wages above $1,500.21 per week are not counted in the calculation.6Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. 2026 Maximum Weekly Wage Base and Maximum Weekly Benefit Amount If your average weekly wage is under $26, your benefit equals your full average weekly wage up to $14.
A quick example. If you earn $1,000 per week, your TDI benefit is $580 per week. If you earn $1,800 per week, you still receive only $871 because of the cap.
How Long Benefits Last
Benefits don’t start on day one. There’s a seven-consecutive-day waiting period, so your first payment covers the eighth day of disability onward.1Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Frequently Asked Questions About Temporary Disability Insurance You can receive TDI for a maximum of 26 weeks within a single benefit year.3State of Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. About Temporary Disability Insurance
Some employers carry plans that exceed the statutory minimum. If your employer has an approved enhanced plan, you might have a shorter waiting period or none at all, a higher weekly benefit, or a longer payment duration. Ask your employer or HR which type of plan applies to you.
How to File a Claim
Ask your employer for Form TDI-45 (Claim for TDI Benefits). The form isn’t available online.7State of Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Temporary Disability Insurance – Disability Compensation Division If your employer doesn’t have it, contact the Disability Compensation Division directly. The form has three parts:
- The Claimant’s Statement, which you fill in with your personal and employment information.
- The Employer’s Statement, which your employer completes with wage and employment data.
- The Doctor’s Statement, in which your provider certifies your disability and inability to work.
Once all three sections are done, mail the form to your employer’s TDI insurance carrier. File within 90 days of the date your disability began. Filing after 90 days can cost you part or all of your benefits unless you can show good cause for the delay, and if you wait more than 26 weeks, you lose all benefit rights for that disability period entirely.1Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Frequently Asked Questions About Temporary Disability Insurance
If Your Claim Is Denied
A denial has to come in writing on Form TDI-46, which arrives in three copies. You have 20 calendar days from the mailing date on that notice to appeal.1Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Frequently Asked Questions About Temporary Disability Insurance Write your reasons for disagreeing on the notice itself and send two copies to the Disability Compensation Division in Honolulu or your nearest DLIR district office. You can also appeal if you think the benefit amount you were paid is too low; bring pay stubs and other evidence to support your case. An impartial referee appointed by the DLIR director will hear the appeal.
Twenty days is a short window, and it’s easy to miss when you’re dealing with a medical condition. If you receive a denial, treat the appeal deadline as urgent.