IHSS Recipients

Important Information

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.

If your provider is not related to you and/or does not live with you, they must get vaccinated.

Your provider may request for an exemption from the vaccine requirement for a qualified medical reason or religious belief. To be exempted, your provider must provide you a signed copy of the COVID-19 Vaccination Exemption Form.

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

If you have determined that your provider is eligible for one of the exemptions, then, you must require your provider to:

Obtain a weekly COVID-19 test at one of the State testing sites (COVID-19 Testing Sites in California) until vaccinated; and
Wear a surgical mask or N95 mask, at all times, while providing services in your home. Masks may be obtained from the Personal Assistance Services Council (PASC).

NOTE: As the recipient and employer of record, you are responsible for requesting from your provider the proof of vaccination or the completed and signed vaccination exemption form, determine whether your provider is eligible for an exemption, and enforce the vaccination requirements.

IMPORTANT: If your provider tests positive for COVID-19, they should not be providing IHSS services. For help with finding a new care provider during your provider’s absence, you can contact:

PASC (877) 565-4477;
IHSS Helpline (888) 822-9622 or your local IHSS office; or
Home and Community Based Alternatives Waiver Agencies (in Los Angeles): Access TLC, Libertana Home Health, and Partners in Care.

Basic Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for IHSS you must:

Be 65 years old or older, blind, and/or disabled as defined by Social Security Administration (SSA) standards. Disabled children are also potentially eligible for IHSS;
Be a United States citizen or a noncitizen with satisfactory immigration status;
Be a California resident;
Live in your own home. Hospitals, nursing homes, and licensed community care facilities are not considered “own home”;
Be eligible for Medi-Cal benefits:
Receive or be eligible to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or State Supplemental Payments (SSP); or
Meet all SSI/SSP eligibility criteria except for income or citizenship or immigration status.
Applicants who do not receive SSI/SSP payments or Medi-Cal benefits must first be determined to receive Medi-Cal benefits under Medi-Cal rules and regulations;
Individuals with income above the SSI/SSP limits, may be required to pay for a portion of their IHSS benefits. This is called a “Share of Cost”. A “Share of Cost” means you may be required to pay for a portion of your IHSS benefits directly to your provider.
Participate in a home assessment interview; and
Obtain a health care certification from a licensed health care professional (physician, psychiatrist, psychologist, etc.) indicating that you are 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 following form to certify their need for IHSS:
- SOC 873 - In-Home Supportive Services Program Health Care Certification Form
- Your health care professional may return this form via fax, U.S. Mail or you may return it in-person.
- You may submit other acceptable forms of alternative documentation, signed by a LHCP, if the SOC 873 is not available. This documentation must:
  1. Indicate that the applicant/recipient is unable to independently perform one or more activities of daily living;
  2. Describe the applicant’s/recipient’s condition or functional limitation that has contributed to the need for assistance; and
  3. Be signed and dated by the LHCP within 60 calendar days of submission to the Social Worker.
- Examples of alternative documentation include, but are not limited to:
  - Hospital discharge plans;
  - Nursing facility discharge plans.
Personal property may not exceed $2,000 for an individual or $3,000 for a couple.

Properties that will not count in determining your eligibility:

The home you own and live in;
One automobile needed for transportation to appointments or work; and
All life insurance policies if the combined face value is not more than $1,500.

Properties that will count:

Cash on hand;
Checking and saving accounts;
Value of stocks, bonds, and trust deeds;
Value of real property other than the home you own or live in;
Additional automobiles and recreational vehicles; and
Promissory notes and loans.

Recipient Frequently Asked Questions

If you need assistance in locating a provider, you may call the Personal Assistance Services Council (PASC). The PASC is the Public Authority for Los Angeles County. They operate a Provider Registry and will provide you with referrals to providers. You may contact PASC at (877) 565-4477 for more information.

A Share of Cost (also referred to as a SOC) is the amount of money you are responsible to pay towards your medical related services, supplies, or equipment before Medi-Cal will begin to pay. You, as an IHSS recipient, may have to pay a certain dollar amount each month toward your medical expenses as part of your SOC.

Twice a month, both you and your provider who works for you will receive an "Explanation of IHSS SOC" letter that will tell you how much money to pay the provider. Remember, the SOC is part of provider's salary. You, as the IHSS recipient, must pay the SOC, if any, to the provider monthly. The SOC may change from month to month.

For questions regarding SOC, contact your Social Worker at (888) 822-9622.

Service authorizations are assessed during the needs assessment, which is a comprehensive review of the recipient’s medical history/diagnosis, medications/purpose, emergency contacts, physicians’ information, household composition, functional index rankings, mini-mental health assessment, necessary referrals to Adult Protective Services (APS), Child Protective Services (CPS), Fraud, community services, etc., language preferences and whether an interpreter is needed, and a full biopsychosocial assessment. The social worker needs to document all service needs and justify the services and hours authorized