In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) is a California program that pays for help at home. It lets older adults and people with disabilities, including children, live safely in their own homes instead of a hospital or care facility.
This guide covers the basics: who qualifies, what IHSS pays for, how the process works, and what to do if you disagree with the county.
At a glance
IHSS in plain words
- What it is
- A California program that pays for help at home so people can live safely outside a hospital or care facility.
- Who it’s for
- People 65 and older, or who are blind or have a disability, including children, who qualify for Medi-Cal.
- What it covers
- Help with things like bathing, dressing, meals, housework, and getting to medical appointments.
- Who does the work
- A caregiver you choose and hire, called your provider. The state pays them.
- How to start
- Contact your county IHSS office. A social worker visits your home to see what help you need.
- If you disagree
- You can ask for a state hearing. You have 90 days from the date on your notice.
Who can get IHSS
You may qualify if you are 65 or older, blind, or have a disability, and you:
- Live in California
- Qualify for Medi-Cal
- Live in your own home or another home you choose (a hospital, nursing facility, or licensed care home doesn’t count)
- Have a health professional complete the Health Care Certification form (SOC 873)
Worth knowingChildren with disabilities can get IHSS too.
- A child who gets SSI automatically meets the money side of eligibility. A child whose family earns too much for SSI may still qualify with a share of cost.
- A parent can be the child’s paid provider in most IHSS programs. The exception is the program called PCSP, where federal rules don’t allow it.
- Tell the county early if you want to be your child’s provider. Your choice affects which IHSS program your child is placed in, not whether they qualify.
What IHSS can help with
A county social worker decides which of these you need and how many hours each one gets.
- Personal careBathing, dressing, grooming, eating, and using the bathroom.
- Around the houseCleaning, meal preparation, laundry, and grocery shopping.
- Paramedical careHealth-related tasks done under the direction of a licensed health professional.
- Medical appointmentsGoing with you to and from doctor visits and other medical appointments.
- Protective supervisionWatching over someone with a mental impairment who could hurt themselves without someone there.
How it works, step by step
Most people go through these steps in this order. Your county may handle some of them at the same time.
- Contact your countyCall or visit your county IHSS office, or fill out the application (form SOC 295) and turn it in.
- Medi-Cal checkThe county confirms you qualify for Medi-Cal. If you’re not on Medi-Cal yet, the county checks that too.
- Home visitA social worker comes to your home and asks what you can and can’t do on your own.
- Health formYour doctor or another licensed health professional fills out the Health Care Certification (form SOC 873). Services can’t start without it.
- Your noticeYou get a Notice of Action saying whether you’re approved, which services, and how many hours a month.
- Hire your providerYou choose a caregiver, who then completes the state’s provider enrollment before they can be paid.
- Yearly check-inThe county reassesses your needs, usually once a year. You can ask for a new assessment any time your needs change.
How many hours you can get
Your hours are based on what the social worker finds you need, task by task. State law caps the total at 195 hours a month for most recipients, or 283 hours a month for people who need at least 20 hours a week of certain personal care services.
Who provides the care
You choose your caregiver, called your provider. For IHSS purposes you are the employer, so you hire, train, supervise, and, if needed, let them go. Some counties also offer agency or county homemaker options.
The state pays your provider directly. Pay rates are set county by county. If you need to find a caregiver, IHSS Connect is a free place to look.
FlagYou have 90 days from the date on your Notice of Action to ask for a state hearing. That clock keeps running even if you are talking with the county or have a complaint open.
If you are losing hours or services, ask before the effective date on the notice and your current services usually continue until the hearing is decided. Request a hearing online or by calling 1-800-743-8525.
How to get started
Find your county on the CDSS county IHSS office list and call or visit. You can also fill out the IHSS application (SOC 295) and turn it in to your county office.
Read more
More guides from IHSS Connect
- What Is IHSS? California's In-Home Supportive Services Program Explained
- How to Apply for IHSS in California: County-by-County Guide
- IHSS for Children: What Parents Need to Know
- Secure Protective Supervision for Your Child Through IHSS
- What Does IHSS Cover? Complete List of Approved Services
- IHSS Social Workers in California: What They Do and What Training They Have
Sources
- CDSS — In-Home Supportive ServicesEligibility requirements; SOC 295 and SOC 873; home visits and annual reassessment; recipient as employer; state pays providers; free eligibility forms
- CDSS — IHSS Program Overview fact sheet (PDF)Services covered; application steps; Notice of Action
- CDSS — IHSS for ChildrenChildren’s eligibility; SSI; parents as providers and the PCSP exception
- California Welfare and Institutions Code § 12303.4 (via FindLaw)Monthly hour caps of 195 and 283
- CDSS — State Hearings: General Information90-day deadline; aid paid pending; how to request a hearing
- Sacramento County — IHSS Brochure (PDF)Services list including protective supervision and accompaniment to medical appointments
- CDSS — County IHSS OfficesWhere to apply
CDSS and the Welfare and Institutions Code are the primary authorities. Where county guidance and the statute differ, the statute governs.
About this article
This guide explains California’s In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program in plain language: who qualifies, what it covers, and how the process works. It is based on California Department of Social Services (CDSS) guidance and state law.
IHSS Connect is an independent, free registry for families and caregivers. We are not part of CDSS or any county IHSS office, and this article is general information, not legal advice. Your county’s decisions and notices are what apply to you.
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