In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS)

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The In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program provides services to assist eligible aged or blind persons or persons with disabilities who are unable to remain safely in their own homes without this assistance. IHSS is an alternative to out-of-home care, such as nursing homes or board and care facilities. Recipients must be eligible for or receiving Medi-Cal. The types of services which may be authorized through IHSS include:

Domestic and related services such as housecleaning, meal preparation and clean-up, laundry, and grocery shopping
Personal care services such as feeding, bowel and bladder care, bathing, grooming, dressing, mobility and transfer assistance, and paramedical care
Protective supervision
Ancillary services consisting of accompaniment to medical appointments, fittings of health-related devices, or sites where alternate resources provide care in lieu of IHSS

Questions? Contact IHSS (661) 868-1003

Contact Information

Address:
Kern County Aging and Adult Services
5357 Truxtun Ave. (just east of Mohawk)
Bakersfield, CA 93309
ATTN: In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS)
Map/Directions

Phone: (661) 868-1000
Toll Free: (800) 510-2020
Fax: (661) 430-9066
Email: ihssinfo@volamdolong.com

Program Director:

Michele Gomez: (661) 868-1096

Assistant Program Director:

Cruz Holguin: (661) 868-1084

Program Supervisor(s):

Desiree Burchfield: (661) 868-0937
Kacie Granillo: (661) 868-1082
Juan Guevara: (661) 868-1090
Lindsay Woods: (661) 868-1038
Mollie Keister: (661) 868-1088
Latasha Pulliam: (661) 868-0982
Flormarie Rodriguez: (661) 868-0990
Juliana Campos: (661) 868-1076

Other Resources

Electronic Timesheets

E-Timesheets (sign-up or login)
Introduction to Electronic Timesheet Service - ETS
IHSS Provider Timesheet Conversion Table Reference

FAQ

Who is served by this program?

The program, which is a Medi-Cal-based program, serves qualifying California residents living in their own homes or a home of their choosing who need IHSS to remain safely in their own homes.

Note: Acute care facilities, long term care facilities, and licensed community care facilities are not considered "own home".
How do I qualify?
To qualify for IHSS, you must:
1. Be a citizen of the United States or a qualified alien and a California resident.
2. Live in your own home or home of your choosing (acute care facilities, long term care facilities, licensed community care facilities are not considered "own home").
3. Be eligible for or receiving Medi-Cal benefits. You must be in one of the following groups:
  - You are currently receiving Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Program (SSI/SSP) benefits administered by the Social Security Administration because you have been determined by that agency to be aged (65 years of age or older), blind, or disabled
  - You meet all eligibility criteria for SSI/SSP, including income, but do not receive SSI/SSP
  - You meet all eligibility criteria for SSI/SSP except that your income is in excess of the applicable SSI/SSP eligibility standards. You may have to pay a portion of the cost of the IHSS benefits
  - You are a Medi-Cal beneficiary who has been determined aged, blind or disabled in accordance with SSI/SSP criteria
What is a share of cost?

Income of individuals who do not receive SSI/SSP is considered in determining if there is a share of cost which must be paid to the IHSS care provider. Individuals who do not receive SSI/SSP, but apply for IHSS, will also apply for Medi-Cal. A Medi-Cal worker will determine their eligibility and share of cost for that program. Individuals who are eligible for Medi-Cal and who need IHSS in order to remain safely in their own homes, will receive both IHSS and Medi-Cal and be required to pay the Medi-Cal share of cost. Where applicable, the Medi-Cal share of cost is compared to the Aged and Disabled Federal Poverty Level. This may reduce a share of cost to zero.
How do I apply?

An individual may obtain additional information or initiate the IHSS application process by calling our Information and Referral number, (661) 868-1000, or our toll free number, (800) 510-2020. The Information and Referral worker will complete a referral form and assign it to an IHSS intake social worker for processing.
What kinds of information will I need to provide?

Information needed to complete a referral includes name, address, telephone number, birth date, Social Security number of the individual being referred, names and relationships of other persons residing in the same household, source and amount of income, physicians' names, medical conditions, and types of services needed. In addition, if the person being referred does not receive SSI/SSP, Medi-Cal eligibility must be determined. Medical information will be requested from the individual's primary physician.
What happens after that?

The assigned intake social worker will conduct an initial phone interview and, if appropriate, schedule a home visit to interview the individual to determine eligibility and specific service needs based on the individual's ability to safely perform certain tasks. If the individual is determined to need IHSS the social worker will authorize hours needed to perform the services. If the individual is determined to be able to remain safely at home without IHSS, the worker will deny the IHSS application. The social worker will send the individual Notice of Action advising of the approval or denial of services. If denied, the Notice will state the reason for the denial. If approved, the Notice will show the services and authorized hours.
How is the IHSS Care Provider paid?

The individual recipient and care provider must complete, sign, and date time sheets verifying delivery of the authorized hours of service. The California Department of Social Services issues the checks for provider payments, twice per month.

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