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 Sacramento County, IHSS served 36,873 cases as of January 2024, the most recent county figure we found.
This guide covers who qualifies, how to apply in Sacramento County, how to become a paid provider, what providers earn, and how IHSS works alongside Alta California 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 Sacramento County
- (916) 874-9471Apply for IHSS. Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
- $19.15/hrSacramento County IHSS provider wage in 2026. Scheduled to reach $19.75 in January 2027.
- (916) 874-2888IHSS Public Authority: caregiver registry, provider help, and the public counter.
- ACRCAlta California Regional Center serves Sacramento and nine other counties: (916) 978-6400.
Sources: Sacramento County DCFAS; Sacramento County IHSS Public Authority; SEIU Local 2015; DDS. Verified November 2026.
Who runs IHSS in Sacramento County
IHSS is a statewide Medi-Cal program, but each county runs it locally. In Sacramento County, two offices share the work.
The county’s Department of Child, Family and Adult Services (DCFAS) runs the IHSS program itself: applications, home assessments, and decisions about your hours. To apply, call (916) 874-9471, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Sacramento County IHSS Public Authority supports providers and recipients. It handles provider enrollment and orientation, runs the caregiver registry, and keeps a public counter for forms at 9300 Tech Center Drive, Suite 100. Call (916) 874-2888.
Two county offices, two different jobs
IHSS (Department of Child, Family and Adult Services) takes applications, sends the social worker, and decides whether you qualify and how many hours you get. Call (916) 874-9471.
The IHSS Public Authority helps providers and recipients: provider enrollment and orientation, the caregiver registry, and a public counter for forms. Call (916) 874-2888.
Where to go in Sacramento County
Sacramento County covers about 965 square miles of land, with about 1.62 million residents and seven incorporated cities: Sacramento, Elk Grove, Citrus Heights, Folsom, Rancho Cordova, Galt, and Isleton. IHSS applications are taken by phone and mail. For in-person help with provider forms, go to the Public Authority.
Where to go for IHSS help
Sacramento County IHSS takes applications by phone and mail. The Public Authority runs the in-person counter.
- 1.62Mresidents (2025 est.)
- 965square miles of land
- 7incorporated cities
Incorporated city
County outline from U.S. Census–derived boundary data. Pins and city dots are placed approximately. Addresses: Sacramento County and DDS, verified November 2026.
- IHSS Public Authority: 9300 Tech Center Drive, Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95826. Public counter 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; forms pickup and drop-off 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; after-hours drop boxes in the lobby and outside the building.
- Apply for IHSS by mail: In-Home Supportive Services, P.O. Box 269131, Sacramento, CA 95826.
- Alta California Regional Center: 4151 E. Commerce Way, Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95834.
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:
The four state requirements
- California residentYou live in California. To apply in Sacramento County, you live in Sacramento 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.
- You are a California resident.
- You have a Medi-Cal eligibility determination.
- You live in your own home or a home of your choosing. Hospitals, long-term care facilities, and licensed community care facilities don’t count.
- You submit a completed Health Care Certification form (SOC 873).
A licensed health care professional fills out the SOC 873. The county must receive it before it can authorize services.
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 Sacramento County
You can start an application by phone or by mail. Here is how the process works from the first contact to hiring a caregiver.
From first call to first caregiver
- 1Call or send in an applicationCall (916) 874-9471, Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Or mail a completed SOC 295 to In-Home Supportive Services, P.O. Box 269131, Sacramento, CA 95826.
- 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 the Public Authority registry at (916) 874-2888.
- Call or send in an application. Call (916) 874-9471, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., or mail a completed SOC 295 application to In-Home Supportive Services, P.O. Box 269131, Sacramento, CA 95826.
- Have a home visit. A county social worker interviews you at home and assesses the types and hours of services you need, using information from you and, where appropriate, your doctor.
- Return the SOC 873. Your licensed health care professional completes the Health Care Certification within 45 days of the county’s request.
- Get your Notice of Action. The county tells you in writing whether you’re approved or denied. A denial gives the reason and your right to appeal. An approval lists your services and monthly hours.
- Hire your provider. You are your provider’s employer: you hire, train, supervise, and if needed, let them go. If you need help finding someone, the Public Authority registry can send you a list of available providers at (916) 874-2888.
Double-check the application number
The county's 2026 IHSS brochure and its program overview both list (916) 874-9471 for applications. The Public Authority's FAQ page lists 916-874-9741, which looks like a transposed number. Use 874-9471.
The county's February 2024 overview also lists a fax line, (916) 854-8828, for SOC 295 applications. We could not confirm it on a 2026 county page, so call before faxing anything with personal information.
Becoming an IHSS provider in Sacramento County
Sacramento 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. If you want the Public Authority to match you with recipients, you also apply to the Provider 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.
- Register online through the Public Authority's provider enrollment page.
- Attend provider orientation.
- Complete the required forms.
- Pass a California DOJ Live Scan background check. You pay for it.
- Watch your mail for your nine-digit provider number from IHSS Payroll.
Join the Registry
You want the Public Authority to match you with recipients.
- Be an eligible IHSS provider first.
- Provide three professional references.
- Complete the online Registry application and an interview.
- Finish the Registry training courses online.
- Attend Registry orientation.
Registry questions: (916) 874-2888, option 2. Enrollment questions: DCFAS-PA-PE@saccounty.gov. In-person registration help: Mondays and Fridays, 9 a.m.–2 p.m., at the Public Authority office.
New provider enrollment
- Register online through the Public Authority’s provider enrollment page.
- Attend provider orientation.
- Complete the required forms.
- Pass a California Department of Justice Live Scan background check. The provider pays for it.
- Watch your mail. Eligible providers receive a nine-digit provider number from IHSS Payroll.
Background check results usually take two to six weeks after your Live Scan. Providers who haven’t been paid by IHSS in more than 365 days must attend orientation again; call IHSS Payroll at (916) 874-9805 to check. If you don’t have a computer or need help registering, the Public Authority offers in-person help on Mondays and Fridays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Enrollment questions go to DCFAS-PA-PE@saccounty.gov.
Joining the Provider Registry
- Be an eligible IHSS provider.
- Provide three professional references and clear the DOJ background check.
- Complete the online Registry application and an interview with a Registry Specialist.
- Finish the Registry’s initial online training courses.
- Attend Registry orientation.
Call (916) 874-2888 and press option 2 to ask about joining.
Provider sign-up is moving to a new system this month
The Public Authority is moving provider enrollment to a new database. Its page says the new sign-up link should be posted on November 16, 2026, and that provider orientation appointments are unavailable the weeks of November 2–6 and November 9–13.
If you started enrolling in the old BOUNDS system, the county says you can keep working in it through Friday, November 6, at 5 p.m. Dates like these can slip, so check the provider enrollment page before you plan around them.
What Sacramento County IHSS providers earn
Sacramento County IHSS providers earn $19.15 an hour in 2026, according to the Sacramento County IHSS Public Authority. Under the contract the county approved in March 2024, SEIU Local 2015 says pay is scheduled to reach $19.75 by January 2027.
Sacramento County IHSS pay
- Current rate2026$19.15per hour, per the Sacramento County IHSS Public Authority.
- January 2027$19.75per hour, the last scheduled step of the 2024 contract, as announced by SEIU Local 2015.
- After January 2027TBDNo later step found. Watch for a new agreement between the county and SEIU Local 2015.
The state minimum wage rises to $17.40 on January 1, 2027, below both rates. Every county raise needs state approval before it is paid.
California’s minimum wage rises to $17.40 on January 1, 2027, which is below both rates. We did not find a scheduled raise after January 2027, so watch for a new agreement between the county and SEIU Local 2015. Every county raise must be approved by the state before it shows up in a paycheck.
Confirm the January 2027 rate before you budget on it
The $19.15 2026 rate comes from the Sacramento County IHSS Public Authority. The $19.75 January 2027 figure comes from SEIU Local 2015's March 2024 announcement of the contract. We could not open the county's contract text to confirm the exact date or how the step is calculated.
Call the Public Authority at (916) 874-2888 or the SEIU 2015 Member Action Center at 855-810-2015 to confirm.
IHSS and your regional center: Alta California Regional Center
If you or your child has a developmental disability, Sacramento County is served by Alta California Regional Center (ACRC). ACRC is one of California’s 21 regional centers and covers ten counties: Alpine, Colusa, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Sierra, Sutter, Yolo, and Yuba.
Alta California Regional Center
Serves people with developmental disabilities in Sacramento County and nine neighboring counties.
Sacramento CountyOther ACRC counties
- Alpine
- Colusa
- El Dorado
- Nevada
- Placer
- Sacramento
- Sierra
- Sutter
- Yolo
- Yuba
Who it serves
People of all ages with developmental disabilities, such as intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, epilepsy and autism, plus infants and toddlers through Early Start.
How to apply
Create a My Alta account online to apply or make a referral, for any age.
An ACRC family? IHSS Connect works across all ten ACRC counties, for IHSS, WPCS, respite and Self-Determination.
IHSS Connect for ACRC families →Under the Lanterman Act, a developmental disability is one that begins before age 18, is expected to continue indefinitely, and is a substantial disability. ACRC lists intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and autism, along with closely related conditions. It also serves infants and toddlers through Early Start. To apply or make a referral at any age, create a My Alta account through ACRC’s website, or call (916) 978-6400.
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 ACRC 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 has a dedicated page for ACRC families across all ten counties: IHSS Connect for the ACRC community.
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.
Sacramento County IHSS contacts
Save these numbers.
Who to call in Sacramento County
- Apply for IHSS (DCFAS)(916) 874-9471Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
- IHSS Public Authority & Registry(916) 874-2888Provider help, registry (option 2 to join), lists of available providers.
- Sacramento County IHSS Payroll(916) 874-9805Provider numbers and payroll questions handled by the county.
- Adult Protective Services (24 hours)(916) 874-9377Report suspected abuse or neglect of an older or dependent adult.
- Alta California Regional Center(916) 978-6400Services for people with developmental disabilities. TTY (916) 489-4241.
- IHSS Service Desk (state payroll)(866) 376-7066Timesheet, ESP and paycheck problems.
- Apply for IHSS (DCFAS): (916) 874-9471, Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
- IHSS Public Authority and Provider Registry: (916) 874-2888.
- Sacramento County IHSS Payroll: (916) 874-9805.
- Adult Protective Services 24-hour hotline: (916) 874-9377.
- Alta California Regional Center: (916) 978-6400; TTY (916) 489-4241.
- IHSS Service Desk (state payroll): (866) 376-7066.
Find a caregiver or IHSS work in Sacramento 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 Sacramento County families and caregivers can find each other by city, county, or ZIP code.
Families served by Alta California Regional Center can use IHSS Connect across all ten ACRC counties, whether care is paid through IHSS, WPCS, respite, or Self-Determination. Hiring happens between you, and pay goes through the program that authorized the care, not through IHSS Connect. See IHSS Connect for the ACRC community.
Find care, or find work, in Sacramento County.
IHSS Connect is California's free online registry for families and caregivers. Search by city, county or ZIP code, from Citrus Heights to Galt.
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 Alta California Regional Center? IHSS Connect works across all ten ACRC counties, for IHSS, WPCS, respite and Self-Determination. See the ACRC 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.
Sources
21 sources
Every figure in this article traces to one of these records. Each opens in a new tab.
- Sacramento County DCFAS — IHSS Brochure (April 2026)Apply at (916) 874-9471, Mon–Fri 9–4; P.O. Box 269131; eligibility; services; providers pay for the DOJ background check; Registry (916) 874-2888.
- Sacramento County DCFAS — IHSS Overview (February 2024)SOC 295 by mail or fax (916) 854-8828; 36,873 IHSS cases as of January 2024; recipient age mix.
- Sacramento County IHSS Public Authority — Home9300 Tech Center Drive, Suite 100; (916) 874-2888; IHSS Payroll (916) 874-9805; counter and drop-off hours.
- Sacramento County IHSS Public Authority — FAQs2026 wage of $19.15; orientation, forms and DOJ Live Scan; 2–6 week background check; nine-digit provider number; lists 916-874-9741 for IHSS.
- Sacramento County IHSS Public Authority — Provider EnrollmentNew enrollment system: link expected Nov. 16, 2026; BOUNDS open through Nov. 6; no orientations Nov. 2–13; Mon/Fri registration help; DCFAS-PA-PE@saccounty.gov.
- Sacramento County IHSS Public Authority — Provider RegistryRegistry requirements: eligible provider, three professional references, DOJ check, application and interview, online training, Registry orientation; option 2 to join.
- Sacramento County — Public Authority office moves to new location (Aug. 28, 2025)New Tech Center Drive office, counter and drop-box details.
- SEIU Local 2015 — Sacramento contract approved (March 2024)Scheduled increases reaching $19.75 by January 2027.
- Sacramento County DCFAS — Report adult abuseAPS 24-hour hotline (916) 874-9377.
- California DDS — Regional Center listingsACRC address, phone, TTY, and the ten counties it serves.
- Alta California Regional Center — Applying for services and intakeWho ACRC serves; apply through a My Alta online account.
- 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; SOC 295; 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.
- U.S. Census Bureau — QuickFacts, Sacramento County1,618,460 residents (July 1, 2025 estimate); 965.27 square miles of land.
- Sacramento County — Demographics and FactsSeven incorporated cities.
- IHSS Connect — 2027 IHSS Raises by County$17.40 state minimum wage on January 1, 2027; SEIU 2015 Member Action Center 855-810-2015; IHSS Service Desk (866) 376-7066.
CDSS is the primary authority for statewide IHSS rules; Sacramento 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, Sacramento County, the Sacramento County IHSS Public Authority, any regional center, or any union.
Program rules, wages, phone numbers, and office details change. Only Sacramento 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.
