IHSS helps pay for services that allow you to live in your own home and avoid the need for out of home care. It is an alternative to out-of-home care, such as nursing homes or board and care facilities.
To be eligible, you must be over 65 years of age, or disabled, or blind.
For more information, please call the Central Intake Unit at (877) 800-4544, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding legal holidays.
- Understanding In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS)Understanding In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS)
- IHSS applicationIHSS application
- Hiring a providerHiring a provider
- Electronic Services Portal (ESP)Electronic Services Portal (ESP)
- Information for IHSS ProvidersInformation for IHSS Providers
- Fraud PreventionFraud Prevention
- IHSS Advisory CommitteeIHSS Advisory Committee
IHSS provides:
- Housekeeping
- Meal preparation
- Laundry
- Grocery shopping
- Personal care
- Accompaniment to medical appointments
IHSS does not provide:
- Moving assistance
- Bill payment
- Reading mail
- Pet care
- Gardening help
- Repair services
- Social event assistance
You may be eligible for IHSS if you:
- Are 65 years of age, or are disabled or blind
- Are at risk of being taken out of your home due to a disability
- Need IHSS services to remain at home
- Reside in California
- Are eligible for Medi-Cal
- Live in a home of your choice
- Acute care hospital, long term care facilities, and licensed community care facilities are not considered your “own home“.
- Submit a completed Forms library: SOC 873 – Healthcare Certification Form
- Call IHSS Central Intake Unit at (877) 800-4544
- Or apply in person: Contact us – Offices
You will need the following information:
- Legal name
- Date of birth
- Social Security Number
- Your case is assigned based on zip code
- It can take up to 90 days to process your application
- An IHSS worker will contact you and ask about:
- Your disabilities
- Your needs
- Medi-Cal eligibility
- Your healthcare provider will need to complete a form
- Forms Library: SOC 873 – Healthcare Certification Form
- An IHSS worker will visit you in-person to ask more questions about your needs
You will receive a Notice of Action with approval or denial of services.
- If approved – the notice will list services approved for and the number of hours approved
- If denied – the notice will list the reason for denial and appeal steps
Yes. Clients can choose their provider if they meet provider enrollment requirements. Providers are family members, friends, neighbors, or someone from the Public Authority registry.
Yes. The IHSS Public Authority Registry can help IHSS clients in need of care providers.
Locating a provider can be a difficult process. IHSS Public Authority can provide a list of potential providers. If you have questions about becoming an IHSS provider, please visit the IHSS Public Authority Client’s Corner or call (866) 985-6322 during normal business hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding major holidays.
The IHSS client is responsible for interviewing, selecting, supervising, and, if necessary, firing the provider.
Yes. The Back-Up Provider System, or BUPS, provides temporary, immediate services to eligible IHSS clients who need care and do not have an available IHSS provider.
If you are an eligible IHSS client and need a back-up provider, please contact your assigned IHSS Social Worker.
All IHSS Registry Providers must complete the IHSS Provider Enrollment Process.
New providers, or those who have not worked for a client in over a year, must meet in-person with the provider union. For a meeting schedule, please call your social worker or visit the local IHSS office. After the meeting, providers will receive a packet with enrollment instructions.
A current provider or one who has served clients within the last year may enroll as a provider for more clients. To do so, providers must:
- Sign provider enrollment forms in the BOUNDS online system
- Have clients complete and sign a Designation of Provider form
- SOC 426A (English)
- Please visit the California Department of Social Services for translated forms and publications in other languages.
- Return the following to an IHSS office:
- Designation of Provider form
- Copies of a valid government issued photo ID and Social Security card
- (Work permit, if applicable)
- Bring original ID and Social Security card for verification
If you have questions about becoming an IHSS provider, please visit the IHSS Public Authority Provider’s Corner or call (866) 985-6322 during normal business hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding major holidays.
The Electronic Services Portal, or ESP, is a website for clients and providers.
Using the ESP, clients can:
- Electronically hire a provider
- Approve/reject timesheets
- View their provider’s timesheet history
Using the ESP, providers can:
- Complete and submit electronic timesheets
- View payment status and history
- Enroll and make changes to direct deposit
- Update contact information
- Submit travel and sick claims
- Access W-2s
To register, please visit the Electronic Services Portal website. Once there, select the “Register Here” link, and follow the online prompts.
For help using the ESP, call the IHSS Service Desk at 866-376-7066. The service desk is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding major holidays.
If you need assistance completing your timesheets, you can take any of the following actions:
- Contact any DAAS-PG or IHSS Public Authority office
- View a step-by-step training video
- Contact the SEIU Union at (855) 810-2015
- Contact the IHSS Service Desk at (866) 376-7066
Paycheck Customer Service is available to provide information regarding timesheets and paychecks. Please contact the toll-free Paycheck Customer Service line at (800) 722-4595. You may also email your questions to IHSSpaycheck@hss.sbcounty.gov.
Please visit the California Department of Social Services’ Direct Deposit webpage.
Employee Verification requests are completed by the IHSS Public Authority. To request an Employment Verification, IHSS Providers must complete an IHSS PA 620. Requests can be submitted at any DAAS-PG or IHSS Public Authority office location. You may also fax Employment Verification requests to (909) 927-4177 or submit via email to IHSSProviderEV@hss.sbcounty.gov.
IHSS providers are responsible for reporting work-related injuries to the IHSS Public Authority. If you are injured while providing care to your IHSS recipient, you must report the injury by calling (866) 985-6322 and selecting option 3. You may also report the injury in-person at any DAAS-PG or IHSS Public Authority office location.
The quickest way for IHSS providers to update their contact information is by completing the update within the Electronic Service Portal. IHSS providers may also document a change of address or telephone number by completing an SOC 840 Program Provider or Recipient Change of Address and/or Telephone form. Completed SOC 840 forms must be submitted in-person at any DAAS-PG or IHSS Public Authority office location.
- SOC840 (English)
- SOC840 (en español)
- Please visit the California Department of Social Services for translated forms and publications in other languages.
Medi-Cal fraud is an attempt to receive unauthorized payments or benefits. Both providers and clients can commit fraud, and schemes can take many forms. The most common fraud involves providers knowingly billing for the following:
- Unnecessary services
- Services not performed
- More expensive services than those provided
Fraud reporting options :
- In-person at any IHSS office
- Call (877) 605-2321
- Submit online Forms Library: form name
- Only ask for services you need.
- Do not let your provider claim time they did not work.
- Give accurate information about the number of people in your home.
- Give accurate information about your marital status and other relationships.
- Report household changes, including deaths, to your social worker within 10 business days.
- Do not approve a time sheet for any time you were admitted to the hospital, in a nursing home, board and care facility, jail, or in any other place where your IHSS provider did not provide services for you.
- Do not give false information about income and/or property belonging to you and/or your spouse.
- It is a violation of the law to falsify the identity of an IHSS provider.
- Only claim time spent on authorized services.
- You cannot claim gardening, pet care, moving furniture, or going to social events with the client.
- Do not approve the client’s time sheet. If the client is unable to approve, contact the social worker.
- Do not create or access the client’s Electronic Services Portal account if you are not the time sheet signatory on file.
- IHSS does not pay for the provider’s time when the client is admitted to the hospital, in a nursing home, board and care facility, jail, or in any other place where the provider did not provide services to the client.
- Do not claim service hours if another person or agency is providing authorized services.
- It is a violation of the law to falsify the identity of an IHSS client.
- Provide accurate information in all interactions with the County and client.
The IHSS Advisory Committee is a citizen body comprised of older adults. The county Board of Supervisors appoints these adults to recommend IHSS service improvements.
IHSS clients, providers, and members of the public may take part in public meetings. For more information about the advisory committee and for a schedule of meetings:
- Visit the IHSS Advisory Committee website
- Call 1 (866) 985-6322 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding major holidays.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Step 1 – Apply
San Bernardino County residents can submit an application for In-Home Supportive Services in-person at one of our six offices or by calling the Central Intake Unit at 1 (877) 800—4544, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding legal holidays. Fill out the application as completely as possible to avoid delay in processing your application.
Step 2 – Department Review
Staff verifies the application submitted is complete and schedules the customer for an in-home interview to obtain appropriate information and verifications to determine program eligibility. A medical doctor will need to complete a form to explain the customer’s limitations and needs.
Step 3 – Outcome
Staff approves or denies the application within prescribed timeframes. The customer will receive a Notice of Action with approval or denial of services.
- If approved – the notice will list services approved for and the number of hours approved.
- If denied – the notice will list the reason for denial and appeal steps.