In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) pays for help at home so people who are older, blind, or have a disability, including children, can stay safely where they live. In Imperial County, IHSS served 10,451 people in September 2026, according to state program data.
This guide covers who qualifies, how to apply in Imperial County, how to become a paid provider, what providers earn, and how IHSS works alongside San Diego Regional Center for people with developmental disabilities. Every phone number and figure below was checked against county, state, regional center, or union records in November 2026.
IHSS in Imperial County
- (760) 337-6800Apply for IHSS: Department of Social Services main line. Ask for IHSS. Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
- $18.83/hrImperial County IHSS provider wage in 2026: the state minimum wage plus $1.93, so it should rise when the minimum wage does in January 2027.
- (760) 337-7722IHSS Public Authority: caregiver registry and provider training.
- SDRCSan Diego Regional Center serves Imperial and San Diego counties. Imperial Valley office: (760) 355-8383.
Sources: Imperial County DSS; CWDA; Imperial County IHSS Public Authority; CDSS; Imperial County Board of Supervisors; San Diego Regional Center. Verified November 2026.
Who runs IHSS in Imperial County
IHSS is a statewide Medi-Cal program, but each county runs it locally. In Imperial County, two offices share the work, and they sit next door to each other on South 4th Street in El Centro.
The county’s Department of Social Services (DSS) runs the IHSS program itself through its Aging and Disability Services division: applications, home assessments, decisions about your hours, and provider enrollment. The county doesn’t publish a separate IHSS application line, so call the DSS main line, (760) 337-6800, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and ask for IHSS.
The Imperial County IHSS Public Authority runs the caregiver registry, screens registry providers, and offers training for providers and recipients. It is at 2999 S. 4th St. Call (760) 337-7722.
No separate IHSS application line: which number to call
To apply for IHSS: the county’s IHSS web page lists no application phone, mailing address or fax. It points to cdss.ca.gov and an online contact form. The County Welfare Directors Association lists the DSS main line, (760) 337-6800, as Imperial’s IHSS contact. Call it, ask for IHSS, and ask where to send your application.
Provider enrollment and back-up providers: the county IHSS office, (760) 337-3084. The county publishes this line for provider questions and sick-leave coverage, not for new applications.
Caregiver registry and training: the IHSS Public Authority, (760) 337-7722, next door at 2999 S. 4th St.
Where to go in Imperial County
Imperial County covers about 4,176 square miles of land, with about 181,000 residents and seven incorporated cities: El Centro, Calexico, Brawley, Imperial, Calipatria, Holtville, and Westmorland. IHSS is run from the Department of Social Services main office in El Centro, and the Public Authority is next door. The county doesn’t list a separate IHSS walk-in counter, so call before you go.
If you or a family member lives in a neighboring county, IHSS works through that county instead. See our guides to San Diego County and Riverside County. Moving? Your case can follow you: how IHSS transfers when you move counties.
Where to go for IHSS help
Imperial County IHSS is run from the Department of Social Services in El Centro. The Public Authority is next door.
- 181Kresidents (2025 est.)
- 4,176square miles of land
- 7incorporated cities
Incorporated city
County outline from U.S. Census–derived boundary data. Pins and city dots are placed approximately. Addresses: Imperial County DSS and the Imperial County IHSS Public Authority, verified November 2026.
- Imperial County Department of Social Services (runs IHSS): 2995 S. 4th St., Suite 105, El Centro, CA 92243. Open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- IHSS Public Authority: 2999 S. 4th St., El Centro, CA 92243. Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed for lunch from noon to 1 p.m.
- San Diego Regional Center, Imperial Valley office: 3095 N. Imperial Ave., El Centro, CA 92243.
Who can get IHSS
IHSS is for people who are 65 or older, blind, or have a disability, including children, and who can’t stay safely at home without help. The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) sets four requirements for every applicant, including Medi-Cal eligibility:
The four state requirements
- California residentYou live in California. To apply in Imperial County, you live in Imperial County.
- Medi-Cal eligibility determinationIHSS is a Medi-Cal program. The county checks your Medi-Cal eligibility as part of the application.
- You live at homeYour own home or a home of your choosing. Hospitals, nursing facilities and licensed care homes don't count.
- Health Care Certification (SOC 873)A licensed health care professional completes it. The county must have it before services are authorized.
Who it's for: people who are 65 or older, blind, or have a disability, including children, and who can't stay safely at home without help.
The 45-day clock on your doctor's form
When the county asks for the SOC 873 Health Care Certification, you have 45 calendar days to return it. If your doctor needs more time, ask the county for a good-cause extension before the 45 days run out.
If the form or acceptable alternative documentation never arrives, the application is denied. If waiting would put you at risk of moving into a facility, the county can approve services temporarily while the form is pending.
Your doctor's office cannot charge you a fee to fill out IHSS eligibility forms (Health and Safety Code §123114).
How to apply for IHSS in Imperial County
You can start an application by phone, or by sending the state application form to the county. Here is how the process works from the first contact to hiring a caregiver.
From first call to first caregiver
- 1Call the county or send in an applicationCall the DSS main line at (760) 337-6800, Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and ask for IHSS. Or fill out the state SOC 295 application from cdss.ca.gov and ask the county where to send it.
- 2Have a home visitA county social worker interviews you at home and assesses what you can and can't do safely on your own.
- 3Return the SOC 873Your licensed health care professional completes the Health Care Certification. You have 45 days from the county's request.
- 4Get your Notice of ActionThe county tells you in writing if you're approved or denied, and how many hours a month you get for each service.
- 5Hire your providerYou choose, hire and supervise your own caregiver. If you need help finding one, ask your IHSS social worker for a list from the Public Authority registry.
A few things the steps above don’t spell out. At your home visit, the social worker assesses the types and hours of services you need, using information from you and, where appropriate, your doctor. If you’re denied, your Notice of Action gives the reason and your right to appeal; if you’re approved, it lists your services and monthly hours. You are your provider’s employer: you hire, train, supervise, and if needed, let them go.
CDSS posts the SOC 295 application in English, Spanish, and other languages. The county does not publish an IHSS mailing address, so ask where to send it. The Public Authority registry is free and optional.
Help in Spanish, and your right to an interpreter
Spanish is the main language of IHSS in Imperial County: 7,542 of the county’s 10,451 recipients (72%) listed Spanish as their spoken language in September 2026, according to state data. We didn’t find a separate Spanish phone line on county or Public Authority pages.
You have the right to a free interpreter. When you call, say which language you speak and ask for one. The SOC 295 application comes in Spanish on the CDSS website, the county’s provider enrollment instructions and online enrollment center have Spanish versions, and the state IHSS Service Desk, (866) 376-7066, takes calls in Spanish.
Becoming an IHSS provider in Imperial County
Imperial County has two paths. If you already have a recipient to work for, such as a family member you care for, you enroll as a new IHSS provider with the county IHSS office. If you want the Public Authority to match you with recipients, you also apply to the Public Authority Registry, which has its own application.
Two ways to start working
New IHSS provider
You already have a recipient to work for, such as a family member you care for.
- Wait until your recipient is approved. You need their name and IHSS case number.
- Register online in the county's provider enrollment center: watch the orientation videos, sign forms, and book an appointment.
- Attend orientation in person at your booked time, about 1.5 hours.
- Bring the SOC 426A signed by your recipient, your original Social Security card, and original photo ID.
- Pass a California DOJ Live Scan background check. Finish every step within 90 days.
Join the Registry
You want the Public Authority to match you with recipients.
- Call (760) 337-7722 to check eligibility and ask for an application.
- Submit four references: two personal references who are not relatives, and two employers.
- Show a current government photo ID and pass the DOJ background check.
- Attend a Public Authority Registry Workshop.
- Complete IHSS provider enrollment.
Enrollment questions: the IHSS office, (760) 337-3084, or ihssproviderinquiries@co.imperial.ca.us. Registry questions: (760) 337-7722 or (760) 482-2050.
New provider enrollment
- Wait until the person you will care for is approved for IHSS. You need their name and IHSS case number to start.
- Register online in the county’s IHSS provider enrollment center. Enter your information, watch the orientation videos, sign the forms electronically, and book an orientation appointment.
- Attend orientation in person at your booked date and time. Plan on about 1.5 hours.
- Bring the Recipient Designation of Provider form (SOC 426A) with your start date and your recipient’s signature, your original Social Security card, and an original government-issued photo ID.
- Get fingerprinted and pass a California Department of Justice criminal background check.
The county’s enrollment instructions say you must finish every step within 90 days or start over. Don’t bring children or your recipient to orientation, and arrive on time: late arrivals must rebook online. If your Social Security card has a work restriction, also bring your original work permit. Providers who haven’t worked for a recipient in the past year may need new fingerprints and a new orientation. Enrollment questions go to the IHSS office at (760) 337-3084 or ihssproviderinquiries@co.imperial.ca.us.
Joining the Public Authority Registry
- Call the Registry at (760) 337-7722 to check eligibility and ask for a Registry Provider Application.
- Complete the application and submit four verified references: two personal references who are not relatives, and two employer references.
- Show a current government-issued photo ID and pass the DOJ criminal background check.
- Attend a Public Authority Registry Workshop.
- Complete the IHSS provider enrollment steps.
The Public Authority is always looking for providers in outlying areas, including Calipatria, Niland, Ocotillo, Salton City, and Winterhaven, and for people who can work weekends, holidays, or on call. Call (760) 337-7722 to ask about joining.
The enrollment instructions date from 2024
The county’s provider enrollment instructions are dated June 2024 and still mention face coverings and temperature checks at the door. The online enrollment center they link to was working in November 2026.
The instructions don’t say where orientation is held, who pays for Live Scan, or how your provider number reaches you. Call the IHSS office at (760) 337-3084 before your appointment.
What Imperial County IHSS providers earn
Imperial County IHSS providers earn $18.83 an hour in 2026, according to the state’s county wage table. Under the Public Authority’s contract with UDW, approved by the Board of Supervisors in January 2025, pay is the state minimum wage plus a $1.93 county supplement.
Imperial County IHSS pay
- Current rate2026$18.83per hour: the $16.90 state minimum wage plus the $1.93 supplement, per CDSS and the county contract.
- January 2027About $19.33per hour, our calculation: the new $17.40 minimum wage plus $1.93. Not yet published by the county or the state.
- After December 2027TBDThe contract ends December 31, 2027. Watch for a new agreement between the Public Authority and UDW.
The contract lists no new negotiated raise for 2027, so the January figure comes only from the minimum wage increase. Every county rate needs state approval before it is paid.
California’s minimum wage rises to $17.40 on January 1, 2027. Because Imperial County’s contract sets the base wage at the state minimum wage, the $1.93 supplement should ride on top, for about $19.33 an hour. That is our reading of the contract, not a published rate. The contract runs through December 31, 2027 and lists no negotiated wage increase for 2027, so watch for a new agreement between the Public Authority and UDW. Every county rate must be approved by the state before it shows up in a paycheck.
The January 2027 rate is our calculation
The $18.83 rate comes from the CDSS county wage table and matches the county's contract with UDW: the $16.90 minimum wage plus $1.93. The figure of about $19.33 for January 2027 is IHSS Connect's arithmetic, because the contract makes the base wage the state minimum wage, which rises to $17.40. Neither the county nor UDW has published that rate.
Call the Public Authority at (760) 337-7722 or the UDW Member Resource Center at 1-800-621-5016 (English, Spanish and Vietnamese) to confirm.
Tip for providers: Working in Imperial County? Use our free IHSS timesheet calculator to plan your hours across both pay periods and stay under your weekly maximum before you submit.
IHSS and your regional center: San Diego Regional Center
If you or your child has a developmental disability, Imperial County is served by San Diego Regional Center (SDRC). SDRC is one of California’s 21 regional centers and covers two counties: Imperial and San Diego. It has an Imperial Valley office in El Centro.
San Diego Regional Center
Serves people with developmental disabilities in Imperial and San Diego counties, with a local office in El Centro.
Imperial CountyOther SDRC counties
- Imperial
- San Diego
Who it serves
People of all ages with developmental disabilities, such as intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, epilepsy and autism, plus infants and toddlers through Early Start.
How to apply
Ages 3 and up: send SDRC’s online Initial Contact Form (in English, Spanish and five other languages), email intake@sdrc.org, or call (858) 576-2938. Under 3: call (858) 496-4318.
Contact SDRC
Imperial Valley office
3095 N. Imperial Ave.
El Centro, CA 92243
Main office: (858) 576-2996
An SDRC family? IHSS Connect helps families and caregivers connect within regional center–supported programs across California.
Find your regional center →Under the Lanterman Act, a developmental disability is one that begins before age 18, is expected to continue indefinitely, and is a substantial disability. SDRC lists intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and autism, along with disabling conditions similar to intellectual disabilities. It also serves infants and toddlers through Early Start. To apply at age 3 or older, send SDRC’s Initial Contact Form, email intake@sdrc.org, or call (858) 576-2938. For a child under 3, call (858) 496-4318.
Regional centers expect you to use IHSS first
By law, a regional center can't pay for a service that IHSS would cover if you meet IHSS criteria but choose not to apply (Welfare and Institutions Code §4659(c)). This is why your SDRC service coordinator may ask you to apply for IHSS.
IHSS and regional center services can be used together. Ask your service coordinator how your IHSS hours fit with the rest of your Individual Program Plan (IPP).
IHSS Connect also lists every California regional center, with addresses and websites: Find your regional center.
If you disagree with a decision
If the county denies your application, cuts your hours, or ends your services, you can ask a state judge to review it.
You have 90 days to ask for a state hearing
If the county denies IHSS, cuts your hours, or ends services, you can ask for a state hearing within 90 days of the notice (Welfare and Institutions Code §10951). Call the CDSS State Hearings Division at (800) 743-8525 (TDD 800-952-8349), file online, or use the form on the back of your Notice of Action.
If you ask before the change takes effect, ask whether your current services can continue until the hearing decision. This is called "aid paid pending."
You can also ask for a reassessment at any time if your needs change. You don’t have to wait for your yearly visit.
Imperial County IHSS contacts
Who to call in Imperial County
- Apply for IHSS (DSS main line)(760) 337-6800Ask for IHSS. Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
- IHSS Public Authority & Registry(760) 337-7722Caregiver registry, registry workshops and provider training. Registry also (760) 482-2050.
- Imperial County IHSS office(760) 337-3084Provider enrollment appointments and questions; back-up provider lists when your provider is out sick.
- Adult Protective Services (24 hours)(760) 337-7878Report suspected abuse or neglect of an older or dependent adult.
- San Diego Regional Center (Imperial Valley)(760) 355-8383Services for people with developmental disabilities. Intake for ages 3 and up: (858) 576-2938.
- IHSS Service Desk (state payroll)(866) 376-7066Timesheet, ESP and paycheck problems.
Find a caregiver or IHSS work in Imperial County
Approval is only half of it. You still need a caregiver, and caregivers need families to work for. IHSS Connect is a free online registry where Imperial County families and caregivers can find each other by city, county, or ZIP code.
Families served by San Diego Regional Center can use IHSS Connect too. Hiring happens between you, and pay goes through the program that authorized the care, not through IHSS Connect.
Find care, or find work, in Imperial County.
IHSS Connect is California's free online registry for families and caregivers. Search by city, county or ZIP code, from Calipatria to Calexico.
Browse caregivers near you, read their profiles, and message the ones who fit.
Find caregiversSee job posts from families near you and build a profile families can find.
Find caregiving jobs- Free for families and caregivers
- 17 languages
- Optional background check badge
Served by San Diego Regional Center? IHSS Connect helps families and caregivers connect within regional center–supported programs across California. See the regional centers page →
IHSS Connect helps you find each other. Hiring happens between you, and IHSS pay goes through the state's IHSS payroll, not through IHSS Connect. New here? See how it works.
Keep reading
More from IHSS Connect
- Becoming a providerHow to Set Up a Relative as an IHSS Provider in CaliforniaRead
- Provider pay2027 IHSS Raises by County: Every Increase We Can Confirm So FarRead
- Your hoursHow to Get More IHSS Hours: A Step-by-Step GuideRead
- ServicesWhat Does IHSS Cover? Complete List of Approved ServicesRead
- Filling the gapsWhat IHSS Does Not Cover — and What to Do About the GapsRead
- For caregiversHealth Insurance for IHSS Caregivers: Every Way to Get Covered for 2027Read
Sources
34 sources
Every figure in this article traces to one of these records. Each opens in a new tab.
- Imperial County Department of Social Services: Aging and Disability Services (checked November 2026)DSS runs IHSS; apply through cdss.ca.gov or the online IHSS contact form; no IHSS phone, mailing address or fax listed; APS 24-hour hotline (760) 337-7878; link to the Public Authority.
- Imperial County Department of Social Services: Home page (checked November 2026)Main line (760) 337-6800; 2995 S. 4th St., El Centro; office and call center hours Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
- Imperial County Department of Social Services: CalFresh program and offices (checked November 2026)El Centro main office at 2995 S. 4th St., Suite 105; all offices open Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
- County Welfare Directors Association: IHSS Main Contact Lines by County (rev. August 2024)Lists the DSS main line, (760) 337-6800, as the IHSS contact for Imperial County.
- Imperial County Department of Social Services: Provider Enrollment Instructions for IHSS Providers (June 2024)Enrollment steps, 90-day limit, orientation of about 1.5 hours, documents to bring, face covering note; Spanish page gives the IHSS office, (760) 337-3084.
- Imperial County: IHSS Independent Provider Enrollment Center (checked November 2026)Online provider enrollment in English, Spanish, Chinese and Armenian; help line (760) 337-3084; ihssproviderinquiries@co.imperial.ca.us.
- Imperial County IHSS Public Authority: Home (checked November 2026)2999 S. 4th St., El Centro; (760) 337-7722; employer of record, registry, provider screening and training.
- Imperial County IHSS Public Authority: Contact Us (checked November 2026)Office hours 8 a.m.–5 p.m., closed for lunch noon–1 p.m.
- Imperial County IHSS Public Authority: Registry (checked November 2026)Free, voluntary referral service for IHSS recipients; (760) 337-7722 or (760) 482-2050.
- Imperial County IHSS Public Authority: Join the Registry (checked November 2026)Registry steps: call for an application, four references, photo ID, DOJ background check, Registry Workshop, IHSS enrollment.
- Imperial County IHSS Public Authority: Consumers in Need of a Provider (checked November 2026)Recipients ask their IHSS social worker for a list of registry providers, then interview and hire.
- Imperial County IHSS Public Authority: Consumers in Need of a Backup Provider (checked November 2026)(760) 337-3084 for back-up provider lists and provider enrollment appointments; providers who have not worked in a year may need new fingerprints and orientation.
- Imperial County IHSS Public Authority: Special Registry Recruitment (checked November 2026)Ongoing recruitment for outlying areas and for weekend, holiday and on-call work.
- Imperial County IHSS Public Authority: IHSS Service Help Desk (checked November 2026)State IHSS Service Desk (866) 376-7066; languages include Spanish.
- Imperial County Board of Supervisors: MOU between the IHSS Public Authority and UDW, July 1, 2024 to December 31, 2027 (January 28, 2025)Base wage is the state minimum wage plus a supplement, $1.65 and then $1.93 from January 1, 2026; no wage increases in 2027; contract ends December 31, 2027; UDW AFSCME Local 3930.
- CDSS: IHSS Wages by County, Individual Providers (October 2026)Imperial County $18.83 an hour, effective January 1, 2026.
- California Department of Industrial Relations: Minimum wage to increase to $17.40 on January 1, 2027 (August 13, 2026)$17.40 statewide minimum wage from January 1, 2027.
- United Domestic Workers (UDW): Contact Us (checked November 2026)Member Resource Center 1-800-621-5016, Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m., in English, Spanish and Vietnamese.
- CDSS: Your Rights Under California Public Benefits Programs, PUB 13 (May 2022)Covers IHSS; you have the right to a free interpreter; ask the agency for language help. Linked from the Imperial County DSS civil rights page.
- San Diego Regional Center: Office Locations (checked November 2026)Imperial Valley office at 3095 N. Imperial Ave., El Centro, (760) 355-8383; main office (858) 576-2996.
- San Diego Regional Center: Apply for Services (checked November 2026)Intake for San Diego and Imperial counties: intake@sdrc.org or (858) 576-2938 for ages 3 and up; (858) 496-4318 for children under 3; Initial Contact Forms in seven languages.
- San Diego Regional Center: About SDRC (checked November 2026)Serves people with developmental disabilities in San Diego and Imperial counties; one of 21 regional centers; conditions served.
- U.S. Census Bureau: QuickFacts, Imperial County, California (Vintage 2025)181,411 residents (July 1, 2025 estimate); 4,175.54 square miles of land.
- County of Imperial: About Imperial County (checked November 2026)Seven incorporated cities: Brawley, Calexico, Calipatria, El Centro, Holtville, Imperial and Westmorland.
- California DDS: Regional Center listingsSDRC main office address and phone, Early Start intake, and the two counties it serves: Imperial and San Diego.
- Welfare and Institutions Code §4512 (Justia, 2025)Definition of developmental disability: begins before 18, expected to continue indefinitely, substantial disability.
- Welfare and Institutions Code §4659 (Justia, 2025)Regional centers may not buy services available from IHSS when a consumer meets the criteria but chooses not to pursue it.
- CDSS: In-Home Supportive Services ProgramState eligibility criteria; SOC 873 before authorization; recipient as employer; send the SOC 295 to the county IHSS office; SOC 295 in Spanish and other languages; no fees for IHSS forms.
- CDSS: All County Letter 11-7645-day SOC 873 window; temporary authorization when waiting risks out-of-home placement.
- CDSS: All County Letter 16-78Good-cause extension of 45 more days, requested before the first 45 expire.
- CDSS: State Hearing Requests90 days to request a state hearing; (800) 743-8525.
- DHCS Medi-Cal Rx: State Fair Hearing Request FormWelfare and Institutions Code §10951; TDD 800-952-8349.
- IHSS Connect: 2027 IHSS Raises by County$17.40 state minimum wage on January 1, 2027; UDW Member Resource Center 1-800-621-5016; IHSS Service Desk (866) 376-7066.
- CDSS: Monthly IHSS Program Data (September 2026)Imperial County: 10,451 authorized IHSS recipients in September 2026, of whom 7,542 listed Spanish as their spoken language.
CDSS is the primary authority for statewide IHSS rules; Imperial County and its Public Authority are the authority for local offices and wages; DDS and the Lanterman Act govern regional centers. Where county guidance and the statute differ, the statute governs.
About this article
IHSS Connect publishes this article for general information and education. It is not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney–client relationship. IHSS Connect is not a law firm and is not affiliated with the California Department of Social Services, Imperial County, the Imperial County IHSS Public Authority, any regional center, or any union.
Program rules, wages, phone numbers, and office details change. Only Imperial County IHSS can decide what you are eligible for, and only the county and its Public Authority can confirm your pay rate.
If a decision on your case looks wrong, or you want advice about your own situation, talk to someone who can look at your file:
- Free and low-cost legal help: LawHelpCA.org
- CDSS State Hearings Division: (800) 743-8525
- CDSS Public Inquiry and Response: 1-800-952-5253
Office details, phone numbers and wages verified November 2026.
