FAQs

IHSS social workers follow State regulations to determine how many IHSS hours may be authorized for each IHSS recipient after reviewing the following information for each client:  1) the specific number of minutes State guidelines allow to complete each task required by the client; 2) the availability of help from other household members or other resources; and, 3) the client's medical information.  

To find an IHSS care provider, you may:

• Ask for assistance in locating a care provider from your IHSS social worker or your Public Authority worker.
• Advertise that you are seeking a qualified care provider by placing advertisements in newspapers, at local colleges, on-line, or at the Multi-Purpose Senior Services Center.
• Request referrals from friends, family members, and neighbors.
• Ask the IHSS Public Authority to help you find a care provider.

The IHSS Share-of-Cost program allows a person with higher income to receive IHSS if he/she pays part of the cost. A share-of-cost is the amount of money that an IHSS recipient must pay to his/her IHSS provider every month to "share-the-cost" of the recipient's IHSS. The State of California pays the rest each month to the IHSS provider.

In Orange County, IHSS recipients hire and supervise their own care providers.  Immigrant care providers must have working permits from INS.  IHSS care providers who are 16-to-18-years old must obtain school work permits.  All IHSS care providers are required to provide documentation that they are legally eligible to work in the United States of America.