In-Home Supportive Services
About IHSS - In-Home Supportive Services
The In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program is a federal, state, and locally funded program designed to provide assistance to those eligible aged, blind, and disabled individuals who, without this care, would be unable to remain safely in their own homes. IHSS provides services according to the client’s ability to perform daily activities, and can include feeding, bathing, dressing, housekeeping, laundry, shopping, meal preparation and clean up, respiration, bowel & bladder care, moving in and out of bed, rubbing the skin (to prevent skin breakdown), accompaniment to medical appointments, paramedical services, and protective supervision.
IHSS clients are responsible for locating their own chore providers, for hiring and supervising their providers, and for firing the provider if the services are not performed according to the client’s specifications. The Alameda County Public Authority for IHSS maintains a Registry of individuals available to work as chore providers.
The In-Home Supportive Services Handbook for IHSS consumers and homecare workers gives detailed information about how IHSS works including services offered, finding and hiring homecare workers, payroll and benefits, responsibilities of IHSS consumers and homecare workers, and important phone numbers.
Who qualifies for IHSS?
To be eligible for IHSS, you must be on Medi-Cal, be blind, disabled, or 65 years of age or older, AND be unable to live at home safely without help.
If you are not on Medi-Cal, but think you might be eligible for IHSS, you can still apply. An Eligibility Technician will be assigned to your case and will let you know what documentation is needed so that a Medi-Cal determination can be made. If the determination finds that you are eligible for Medi-Cal, the next step in the application process is a home visit from an IHSS Social Worker.
IHSS Social Workers determine if you qualify for IHSS by assessing your functional need for specific services, and by identifying the amount of time to be allotted for the performance of services. Depending on the amount of your monthly income, you may be required to pay a share of cost for these services.
How to apply for IHSS
There are several ways to apply for IHSS. You can call 510-577-1900, and follow the menu selections to be connected with the IHSS Screening Unit. Social Work Screeners can either help you complete the application over the phone, or if you prefer, can mail an application to you. You can also download an application from this Web site, or you can come into the office Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The office is closed between 12 noon and 1:00 p.m. We are located on the 3rd floor of the Eastmont Self Sufficiency Center, 6955 Foothill Boulevard, Oakland.
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