The IHSS program is supported by federal, state and county funds. These funds are used to pay in-home Providers for specific services. These services are authorized by the county for someone who they determine is eligible to receive IHSS. The consumer (also called the recipient or client) chooses the Provider, supervises the Provider’s work, defines how tasks will be done, and can fire the provider if the consumer wishes. The IHSS consumer signs the care provider’s timesheet twice a month, but in most cases, the paycheck comes from the State. Sometimes, the consumer pays a share of the wages directly to the provider.

The IHSS Consumer is the primary employer of his/her Provider.

The role of employer may be unfamiliar for some IHSS consumers. Hiring or supervising others may be a new experience. Defining and prioritizing tasks for someone else to do – and training them to do it – takes energy and communication skills. Providing feedback and making suggestions for improvement in how tasks are done requires compassion, courage and patience. Hiring and firing demands good judgment in addition to all of the above. The good news is that help is available through the Public Authority, FREED Center for Independent Living and your IHSS Social Worker.

As the Consumer, you can only ask the provider to perform those tasks that a social worker has authorized for your care.

Your provider should only perform the assigned tasks. In addition, you should never ask the provider to work more than the maximum number of hours the social worker has authorized. If the provider does this, the provider will not be paid for the extra hours unless the county determines that the extra time was necessary due to extenuating circumstances.

No consumer can receive more than 283 hours per month of authorized services.

The IHSS program does not provide 24-hour assistance. Someone with mental limitations who needs continuous supervision – called protective supervision – 24 hours a day, or who needs round-the-clock nursing care, may be denied IHSS coverage unless family, friends or other community resources volunteer to cover the unpaid hours.