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IHSS Providers and How to Be a Provider

Important Information

COVID-19 VACCINE BOOSTER DOSE REQUIREMENT

On December 22, 2021, due to the emergence of the Omicron variant, the California Department of Public Health issued an Amendment to the September 28, 2021, Public Health Order.  The Amendment requires IHSS providers to receive a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine after receiving all recommended doses. Providers who are eligible for the booster dose must comply by March 1, 2022. Those who are not yet eligible for a booster dose must comply within 15 days after the recommended time frame for the booster.

Learn more at: Questions & Answers: Adult Care Facilities and Direct Care Worker Vaccine Requirement

NOTE: All other provisions of the September 28, 2021, order are still in effect, including exceptions and exemptions. 

COVID-19 VACCINE REQUIREMENT

The California Department of Public Health issued a public health order on September 28, 2021, requiring certain providers to be fully vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine by November 30, 2021.

This health order does not apply to a provider who:

  • Lives with the recipient(s), or
  • Provides services to a family member(s); and
  • Only provides services to a single household.

Providers may be eligible for an exemption if they have a qualified medical reason or for religious beliefs.  To be exempted, providers must provide their recipient a signed copy of the COVID-19 Vaccination Exemption Form.

*Also available in the following languages:

COVID-19 Vaccination Exemption Form- Spanish (Español) 

COVID-19 Vaccination Exemption Form- Armenian (Հայերեն)

COVID-19 Vaccination Exemption Form- Chinese (中文)

COVID-19 Vaccination Exemption Form- Cambodian (ភាសាខ្មែរ)

COVID-19 Vaccination Exemption Form- Farsi (فارسی)

COVID-19 Vaccination Exemption Form- Korean (한국인)

COVID-19 Vaccination Exemption Form- Russian (Pусский)

COVID-19 Vaccination Exemption Form- Tagalog (Tagalog)

COVID-19 Vaccination Exemption Form- Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt)

For the qualified medical reason exemption, providers must include a written statement signed by their doctor, nurse practitioner, or other licensed medical professional under the license of a physician, stating that the provider qualifies for the exemption and providing the length of the exemption (may be unknown or permanent).

If a provider is determined by the recipient to be eligible for an exemption, the provider then must:

  1. Obtain a weekly COVID-19 test at one of the State testing sites (COVID-19 Testing Sites in California) until vaccinated; and
  2. Wear a surgical mask or higher-level respirator, at all times, while providing services in a recipient’s home.  Masks can be obtained from the Personal Assistance Services Council (PASC).

NOTE: The completed COVID-19 Vaccination Exemption Form must be provided to the IHSS recipient, not the IHSS offices.  Providers are responsible for maintaining their own vaccination cards or vaccination exemption documents and weekly testing results.

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Attention Providers: View Your Direct Deposit RA/Pay Stub Statement at the ESP

Effective July 1, 2022, due to a national paper supply shortage, the Remittance Advice (RA) statements, also known as “the pay stub”, for providers who receive their IHSS payments using direct deposit will be delayed. 

This will not affect your IHSS paper warrant or direct deposit payments. You will continue to receive your paper paycheck like you do now. Deposit payments will continue to be posted.

Providers that do not receive RA statements/paystub in the mail can view, download and/or print their RA statements/pay stub in the Electronic Services Portal (ESP) by using the following steps:

  1. Log into your ESP account
  2. Click on the Financial tab at the top of the ESP landing page
  3. Select Recent Payments from the sub menu
    • The most recent payment will display if it was made in the last 14 days
    • If no recent payment was made in the last 14 days, you can enter the payment date you are seeking
  4. Select View Payment Detail in the blue section
  5. Select either email or download or print in the blue section

For ESP questions please contact the IHSS Service Desk at (866) 376-7066 during normal business hours of 8 am – 5 pm Monday through Friday, excluding major holidays.

Provider Eligibility and Orientation Information

Are You Thinking About Being an IHSS Provider?

Good news! Our offices are open. You can become a provider by attending an in-person provider orientation or by completing the provider orientation process online.

After the orientation you will be required to visit an IHSS office to:

  • Present your photo ID and Social Security card;
  • Complete and return the required enrollment forms; and
  • Obtain the Request for Live Scan Service form to get a criminal background check. 

Begin the enrollment process by calling the IHSS Helpline at (888) 822-9622, Monday–Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Thank you for your interest in becoming a provider in the IHSS program.

Additional informational materials are also available online at:

CDSS Website (IHSS Provider Orientation)

Male Care Assistant Serving Meal To Senior Male Seated At Table
CalSavers Retirement Savings Program

Enroll Today!

CalSavers is a new optional retirement program designed for all California individuals, including IHSS providers, which offers automatic employment retirement contribution options. Easy enrollment by phone or online. Multilingual support and materials are available. 

To learn more about the program, contact CalSavers:

 

View or download the CalSavers Informational Flyer below:

CalSavers Informational Flyer 

CalSavers Informational Flyer - Armenian (Հայերեն)

CalSavers Informational Flyer - Cambodian (ភាសាខ្មែរ)

CalSavers Informational Flyer - Chinese (中文)

CalSavers Informational Flyer - Farsi (فارسی)

CalSavers Informational Flyer - Korean (한국인)

CalSavers Informational Flyer - Russian (Pусский)

CalSavers Informational Flyer - Spanish (Español)

CalSavers Informational Flyer - Tagalog (Tagalog)

CalSavers Informational Flyer - Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt)

Paid Sick Leave for Provi­ders

As of July 1, 2018, you can earn paid sick leave if you’re an active provider who works for an IHSS/WPCS recipient.  To earn sick leave, you must complete a one-time, two-part requirement to earn and use paid sick leave:

  1. Work 100 hours for an IHSS recipient to earn paid  sick leave hours; and
  2. Wait 60 days or work an additional 200 hours,  whichever comes first, before using paid sick leave hours.

Note: Beginning July 1, 2022, you will get 24 hours of paid sick leave. Any sick leave hours you currently have will expire on June 30, 2022.  In addition, all sick leave hours received on or after July 1, 2022, must be used by June 30, 2023 or they will expire. 

If you would like to claim sick leave hours, you may register with the ESP website: IHSS Electronic Services Portal

For more information on Paid Sick Leave for Providers, visit the CDSS website at: CDSS Website (Paid Sick Leave Program Information)

Provider Frequently Asked Questions