In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS)

In-Home Supportive Services, also known as IHSS, can help pay for services if you’re a low-income elderly, blind or disabled individual, including children, so that you can remain safely in your own home. IHSS is considered an alternative to out-of-home care, such as nursing homes or board and care facilities.

Eligibility criteria for all IHSS applicants and recipients:

• You must physically reside in the United States.
• You must be a California resident.
• You must apply for Medi-Cal if you are not already receiving.
• You must live at home or a dwelling of your own choosing (acute care hospital, long-term care facilities, and licensed community care facilities are not considered "own home").
• You must submit a completed Health Care Certification form.

• A county social worker will interview to determine your eligibility and need for IHSS. Based on your ability to safely perform certain tasks for yourself, the social worker will assess the types of services you need and the number of hours the county will authorize for each of these services. This assessment will include information given by you and, if appropriate, by your family, friends, physician or other licensed health care professional.
• You must have a physician or other licensed health care professional fill out a Health Care Certification (SOC 873) form and you must return it to the county before care services can be authorized.
• You will be notified if your application for IHSS has been approved or denied. If denied, you will be notified of the reason for the denial. If approved, you will be notified of the service authorizations including, the number of hours per month which have been authorized for you.
• If you are approved for IHSS, you must hire someone (your individual provider) to perform the authorized services. You are considered your provider's employer and, therefore, it is your responsibility to hire, train, supervise, and fire your provider.
• Care providers may be family members, friends, neighbors or registered providers through the Public Authority.
• You can contact the PASC for assistance in locating a provider to interview for hire.

DPSS offers IHSS providers and recipients an online customer service center to access program information, submit questions through a helpdesk system and chat live with a DPSS agent during normal business hours.