How to apply for In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) in California

Who it's for

IHSS pays for a caregiver to come to the home and help an aged, blind, or disabled person with personal care, housework, meal preparation, shopping, and other daily activities — keeping people out of nursing facilities. Hours are assessed by a county social worker based on individual need (up to 283 hours per month for severely impaired participants). The caregiver can often be a family member, including an adult child or spouse. IHSS requires Medi-Cal eligibility as a prerequisite.

What you'll need

• Proof of California residency
• Proof of age, blindness, or disability (whichever pathway applies)
• Medi-Cal card or Medi-Cal application confirmation
• Health Care Certification form (SOC 873) — completed by your doctor to document need for personal care
• Identification of preferred caregiver, if applicable

Where to apply

Step by step

1. Confirm that you have or are applying for Medi-Cal, since active Medi-Cal eligibility is required before IHSS can be approved.
2. Gather your required documents: proof of California residency, proof of age or blindness or disability (whichever applies to you), and your Medi-Cal card or Medi-Cal application confirmation.
3. Ask your doctor to complete the Health Care Certification form (SOC 873), which documents your need for personal care services.
4. Identify your preferred caregiver, such as an adult child, spouse, or other person, if you already have someone in mind — this is optional but helpful to have ready.
5. Submit your IHSS application online through the official California application portal.
6. After applying, a county social worker will contact you to schedule an in-home visit to assess your care needs and determine how many hours of support you qualify for (up to 283 hours per month for severely impaired participants).

What to expect: After you submit your application, a county social worker will reach out to arrange an in-home assessment. During that visit, the social worker evaluates your daily care needs and assigns an approved number of monthly service hours based on your individual situation. Processing times vary, so contact your county IHSS office for an estimate of how long to expect. Once approved, your caregiver — who can often be a family member — is paid to provide services such as personal care, housework, meal preparation, and shopping. IHSS requires an annual renewal: each year, your care needs and Medi-Cal eligibility will be re-assessed to confirm you still qualify and to update your approved hours if your needs have changed.

Renewals

annual (re-assessment of need and Medi-Cal eligibility)

Related reading

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