We’ve maxed out IHSS but still have gap in unmet needs. What can we do?

If you’ve maxed out your IHSS hours but still have a gap in unmet needs (including in-home nursing), there are a few options. Unmet need hours are hours for which there is an assessed need for IHSS-specific services beyond the maximum hours allowed. IHSS will not pay for hours of unmet need — that’s what they mean by “unmet.” However, you can refer to documented unmet need when requesting additional service hours from other agencies, or example, respite or personal care hours from the Regional Center or as Waiver Personal Care Services (WPCS) for individuals on the Home and Community-Based Alternatives (HCBA) waiver.

If your child needs in-home nursing specifically, WPCS services can also fill gaps for children receiving IHSS whose documented care needs on the IHSS Notice of Action exceed the IHSS monthly maximum of 283 hours. Note that your child needs to be using all of their authorized IHSS hours before they can be approved for WPCS. Families can also use a combination of IHSS and WPCS caregivers to take care of a child in cases where they can’t find a nurse.

Undivided Public Benefits Specialist Lisa Concoff Kronbeck recommends getting on the waiting list for the HCBA waiver. This should not affect services your child already receives through CCS (California Children’s Services), IHSS, or the Regional Center.