IHSS: In-Home Supportive Services

IHSS is a Medi-Cal program that provides home-based personal care and related services so that people with disabilities can remain safely in their communities. Part of Medi-Cal, the IHSS program will help pay for certain services for an eligible child with a disability.

For children, authorized In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) may include personal care services, meal preparation, paramedical services, accompaniment to medical appointments, and protective supervision to prevent injury to themselves or others.

IHSS hours are awarded for allowable services to the extent that a child’s needs exceed those of a typically developing child of the same age. IHSS uses a ranking scale to determine the number of hours awarded for each service.

You and your child will be interviewed in your home to determine eligibility and need for In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS). Here are the top tips about how to prepare for this visit, what to do during the visit, and how to follow up afterward.

If you are ineligible to be a parent provider, you must hire someone to perform the authorized services. If you need assistance locating a provider, call the Personal Assistance Services Council. You may also have a family member or family friend become authorized to provide IHSS services.

It is very common to be denied for In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) the first time around, but many families succeed after appealing by requesting a state hearing.