Overview of the IHSS Program

In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) ProgramOverview of the IHSS ProgramThe IHSS programprovides services toeligible people over theage of 65, the blindand/or disabled.The goal of the IHSS program is to allowyou to live safely in your own home andavoid the need for out of home care.Services almost always need to beprovided in your own home. This couldbe a house, apartment, hotel, or thehome of a relative.If you receive Supplemental SecurityIncome (SSI) or meet all Medi-Cal incomeeligibility requirements, you may beable to receive IHSS services. IHSS is aMedi-Cal program and is funded byfederal, state, and county dollars.ServicesThese are the types of services IHSS canprovide:• Personal care services like dressing,bathing, feeding, toileting• Paramedical services like helping withinjections, wound care, colostomy andcatheter care under the direction of alicensed medical professional• House cleaning• Cooking• Shopping• Laundry• Accompaniment to and from medicalappointmentsSome of the things IHSS cannot pay forinclude:• Moving furniture• Paying bills• Reading mail to you• Caring for pets, including serviceanimals• Gardening• Repair services• Sitting with you to visit or watch TV• Taking you on social outings• Waiting for you in the doctor’s o ffice

Application Process1. How to ApplyContact the In-Home SupportiveServices program in your county.A county representative will ask youquestions to gather information aboutthe nature of your disability, thingsthat you need help with, your income,and assets. This may take up to20 minutes.2. Home VisitA social worker will come to your hometo determine the types of authorizedservices that you need and the numberof hours for each service. Some of thethings the county will consider are yourmedical condition, living arrangement,and any resources that may already beavailable.Hiring Provider(s)Once eligibility is established, you canhire one or more people to provide yourcare. A friend or relative may serve asyour care provider, or a referral maybe obtained through the IHSS PublicAuthority Caregiver Registry. Your careprovider must complete all the necessaryprovider enrollment steps prior tostarting work. You or your provider cancontact your social worker or PublicAuthority for more information aboutprovider enrollment requirements.3. Health Care Certif ication FormYou will receive a form for your doctorto complete, certifying your need forIHSS. This form must be completedbefore services can be authorized.4. AuthorizationThe county will send you a Notice ofAction (NOA) telling you if you havebeen approved for IHSS. The NOAwill specify what services have beenapproved, how much time is authorizedfor each service, and how many totalmonthly hours have been approved.