Before You Begin: Important Advice
Critical Tip: If you need significant support hours or are attempting to get Protective Supervision, find an advocate before you apply. This will give you the best outcome. An advocate can be an attorney or a non-attorney professional who knows the laws surrounding IHSS. Your advocate will need to prepare you for the home assessment. Do not wait until the last minute. If an advocate was not present at the home visit, they can rarely "save it" at a hearing. They will instead prepare you for the next home assessment and start from there.
Step 1: Check Your Eligibility
Before applying, make sure the applicant meets the basic eligibility requirements: California Resident You must be a California resident Medi-Cal Eligibility You must have Medi-Cal eligibility or a Regional Center waiver Living at Home You must live at home or in an abode of your own choosing, not in a hospital or licensed care facility Health Certification You must submit a Health Care Certification (SOC 873) completed by a medical professional within 45 days If you're unsure about eligibility, contact the main IHSS office at 1-877-800-4544, or reach out directly to your county IHSS office for guidance.
Step 2: Complete the IHSS Application
Main Application Form The main application form for IHSS is the SOC 295 – Application for In-Home Supportive Services. SOC 295 – English (PDF) How to Submit After completing the form, submit it to your county IHSS office. By law, your county must accept the application by mail, online, or over the phone. Check your local IHSS website or call to confirm the preferred method.
Step 3: Additional Forms You May Need
Depending on your need, IHSS may ask for additional documentation: Assessment Forms SOC 821 – Assessment of Need for Protective Supervision SOC 825 – Protective Supervision 24 hour coverage plan Provider Forms SOC 426 – Provider Enrollment Form SOC 847 – Register as an IHSS provider Medical Services SOC 321 – Request for Order and Consent Paramedical Services IEP's and IPP's Medical Reports You may also want to prepare an incident report, list of medications, and letters of support from doctors, therapists, or other specialists.
Step 4: The In-Home Assessment
Once your application is received, the county will contact you to schedule an in-home assessment, usually within 30 days. Review Medical Condition The social worker will review your medical condition and daily needs Assess Abilities They will assess your ability to perform tasks safely Determine Services They will determine the types and number of hours of IHSS services you qualify for Document Signing You'll be asked to sign several documents, including registration to vote and a release of information Important: Registration to vote and release of information documents are NOT mandatory to sign and will not affect your approval for services. If you do not sign the release, you will need to provide information from doctors/healthcare providers as necessary.
Step 5: Receive Your Notice of Action
If Approved ✓ Your NOA will outline: The specific IHSS services you are authorized to receive The number of hours per month approved Instructions for hiring or registering your IHSS provider If Denied ✗ The NOA will explain the reason for denial. You will have the right to appeal the decision if you believe it was made in error. Information on how to appeal is explained in the NOA. Save All NOAs: This NOA and all future NOAs should be saved and referred to if you lose or are denied services in the future. When denied protective supervision or losing significant hours, never file an appeal without representation by an advocate or lawyer who specializes in IHSS laws and procedures.
Step 6: Hire or Enroll an IHSS Provider
Choose Your Provider Hire a family member, friend, or professional caregiver Your Responsibilities You are the employer responsible for hiring, training, supervising, and paying your provider Payment Process The State of California issues all provider payments, with hourly rates varying by county If you are applying for a minor, a dependent adult, or someone with a mental impairment, the custodial adult may choose to be the provider or hire another provider. To find out your county's current IHSS hourly rate, you can view the 2025 California Wages by County Resource or contact your social worker or county IHSS office.
Step 7: Maintain and Update Your Case
Annual Reassessments IHSS recipients must complete annual reassessments to ensure their service hours and care plan remain appropriate. If your needs change—for example due to a new diagnosis or mobility issue—you can request a reassessment at any time. County social workers continuously monitor IHSS cases to confirm that recipients' needs are being met through authorized services. Some advocates will attend these annual reassessments to help secure the benefit.
Need Help with Your IHSS Application?
Many IHSS applicants face delays or denials due to missing or poorly prepared documentation, unclear assessments, or simply not understanding the rules of IHSS. Expert Guidance We help families navigate IHSS applications, appeals, and reassessments with clarity and confidence Accurate Documentation We ensure your paperwork is accurate, your documentation is strong, and your case is presented effectively Ongoing Support We follow up with yearly reassessments to help you retain your hours Find Your County Office
- A county social worker will interview to determine your child's eligibility and need for IHSS. Based on your child's ability to safely perform certain tasks, the social worker will assess the types of services they 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 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 your child.
- If your child is approved for IHSS, you must hire someone (their Individual Provider) to perform the authorized services. You are considered the 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.
- Physically reside in the United States.
- Be a California resident.
- Apply for Medi-Cal if they are not already receiving.
- Live at home or a dwelling of your own choosing (hospitals and care facilities are not considered "own home").
- Submit a completed Health Care Certification form.
- Participate in a home assessment interview; and
- Obtain a health care certification from a licensed health care professional (such as a physician or psychologist) indicating that your child is unable to safely perform one or more activities and without IHSS, would be at risk of placement in out-of-home care. Applicants may provide the SOC 873 - In-Home Supportive Services Program Health Care Certification Form to certify their need for IHSS.
DPSS Resources
In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) IHSS Program Rules - Overtime, Travel Time and Wait Time IHSS Recipients