IHSS Providers and How to Be a Provider

IHSS recipients who get IHSS services also have Medi-Cal.  Some of these recipients must pay a certain dollar amount each month toward their own medical expenses.  This dollar amount is called a Share of Cost (SOC).  A SOC is similar to a private insurance plan's out-of-pocket deductible. 

Twice a month, both you and the recipient you work for will receive an "Explanation of IHSS SOC" letter that will tell you how much money to collect from the recipient, and how much you will get in the check from the State.  The SOC is part of the provider's salary.  The recipient must pay the SOC, if any, to the provider monthly.  The SOC may change from month to month.

The IHSS recipient or his/her authorized representative is responsible for hiring, training, supervising and if necessary, firing the provider.

No. During the provider orientation, a fingerprint packet will be provided.  The packet includes a form that will be needed by the live scan facilities.  The form may be taken to any of the authorized locations listed in the link: Approved Los Angeles County Live Scan Location. 

• The County IHSS wage rate for providers is $18.00 per hour.
• The State Back-Up Provider System (BUPS) provider wage rate is $20.00 per hour.
• The Back-Up Attendant Program (BUAP) provider wage rate is $21.00 per hour.

Yes, providers can work for more than one recipient, but they are limited to the weekly maximum of 66 hours total.

A provider who works for more than one recipient and claims travel time between locations can submit his/her claim in one of two ways:

• Electronically via the Electronic Services Portal (ESP)*

   OR

• By mailing the IHSS Travel Claim Form (SOC 2275) to:

   IHSS Timesheet Processing Facility

   IHSS Travel Timesheet

   PO Box 989780

   West Sacramento, CA 95798-9780

*Note: Providers needing assistance with the ESP website may contact the IHSS Service Desk at (866) 376-7066 during normal business hours, Monday through Friday from 8am - 5pm.

On October 1, 2022, the State Back-Up Provider System (BUPS) was launched.

Under BUPS, IHSS recipients may receive temporary IHSS services from a back-up provider if they have an urgent need for back-up supportive services related to personal care services that cannot be met by an existing provider, or the recipient is transitioning to home-based care and does not yet have an identified provider.

To serve as State BUPS IHSS Providers, providers must meet the following criteria:

• Shall not have been convicted of Tier 1 nor Tier 2 crimes;
• Have fulfilled all the Provider enrollment requirements; and
• Shall be enrolled with the Personal Assistance Services Council (PASC) and registered as a Back-Up Provider under the PASC’s registry.

For more information, visit the PASC website State Back-Up Provider System (BUPS) 

The Back-Up Attendant Program (BUAP) is a program designed to refer replacement homecare providers to eligible IHSS recipients when they have an urgent yet temporary need for back-up support. The BUAP was developed by the Personal Assistance Services Council (PASC) and the Department of Public Social Services to assist IHSS recipients with severe disabilities in obtaining a temporary replacement when their regular IHSS worker cannot work due to an unforeseen or unplanned event, and their usual substitute providers are not available.

To become a back-up attendant, providers must meet the following requirements:

• Be eligible to work as an IHSS provider and work less than 40 IHSS hours per week;
• Have extensive homecare experience and/or be a Certified Nursing Assistant or Home Health Aide;
• Complete a BUAP orientation and application;
• Participate in BUAP trainings; and
• Join the PASC Homecare Registry.

For more information, visit the PASC website Back-Up Attendant Program (BUAP)

You may contact the Personal Assistance Services Council (PASC).  The PASC is the Public Authority for Los Angeles County. The PASC operates a Registry to provide referrals for IHSS recipients and providers. You may contact the PASC at (877) 565-4477 for more information.

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.