San Diego County IHSS: Eligibility, Applications & Caregiver Resources

Services & Eligibility Apply for IHSS Assessment & Decisions Hiring a Caregiver Provider Enrollment Timesheets & Payments Offices & Contacts

Find San Diego County In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) resources for applying for care, preparing for an assessment, hiring a caregiver, completing provider enrollment and managing electronic timesheets.

Independent guide. This website is not affiliated with San Diego County, IHSS or the California Department of Social Services. It provides general information, not medical, legal or benefits eligibility advice. Verify current requirements and case instructions with the responsible official office. Submit applications and personal documents through official channels.

Services and Eligibility

IHSS helps eligible older adults and people with disabilities, including eligible children, receive assistance so they can remain safely at home. San Diego County administers the program through Aging & Independence Services within the Health and Human Services Agency.

The official county IHSS page identifies help with tasks such as:

  • Bathing, grooming and dressing.
  • Housecleaning and laundry.
  • Shopping.
  • Meal preparation and cleanup.

The services and hours authorized depend on the individual assessment. A program description does not mean every applicant will receive every listed service.

Who May Qualify

The county lists these eligibility conditions:

  • Meet financial eligibility guidelines.
  • Be blind, have a disability or be age 65 or older.
  • Meet full-scope Medi-Cal requirements.
  • Need assistance to live safely at home.

The state also identifies California residency, an eligible home setting and a completed healthcare certification among program requirements. Review the California Department of Social Services IHSS information and ask the county about your circumstances.

Financial Eligibility and Share of Cost

Receiving Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment (SSI/SSP) is one route identified in the county’s financial eligibility information. People who do not receive SSI/SSP may also qualify, although some may have a share of cost.

A share of cost is an amount the recipient must pay toward services. Your Notice of Action explains whether it applies. Do not assume that receiving IHSS always means there is no individual payment obligation.

Apply for IHSS

You can apply for yourself, or someone can help apply on your behalf. When applying for a child under 18, use the child’s information as the applicant and complete representative information where applicable.

Application Methods

  • Telephone: Call the Aging & Independence Services Call Center at 800-339-4661.
  • Email: Send the completed application to AIS.295only.HHSA@sdcounty.ca.gov.
  • Mail or in person: Submit the application to a county IHSS office listed below. Offices can print an application for you.
  • Fax: The county lists 619-344-8077 for IHSS applications.

Download the official SOC 295 Application for In-Home Supportive Services and retain a copy of your completed application.

Route later documents correctly. The application email and fax instructions apply to applications. The county directs other forms to your assigned social worker or IHSS worker. Follow that worker’s instructions for supporting documents and case updates.

Information to Prepare

  • The applicant’s identifying and contact information requested on SOC 295.
  • Applicable Medi-Cal, SSI/SSP and household information.
  • The daily activities for which assistance is needed.
  • Previous IHSS case information, if applicable.
  • Representative information when another person helps complete the application.
  • Preferred language and communication accommodation needs.

Read the form’s instructions for required and optional sections. Its sexual orientation and gender identity questions are identified as optional and are not used to determine eligibility.

Submit personal, medical and financial information only through the official channels identified by the county. This website does not collect IHSS applications.

Professional Referrals

Professionals, such as hospital discharge planners, can use the referral route linked from the county IHSS page. New users follow the county’s registration instructions before submitting a referral.

This professional referral process is separate from a recipient application and from the state’s electronic timesheet system. An Electronic Services Portal account does not replace applying for IHSS.

Assessment and Decisions

The Home Assessment

After you apply, a county IHSS worker arranges a home assessment. The worker discusses your condition, living arrangements, assistance already available and the tasks you need help completing safely.

Prepare examples of your needs for activities such as bathing, dressing, shopping and meal preparation. Explain how often help is needed and what family members, friends or others currently provide.

Healthcare Certification

The state identifies Health Care Certification, form SOC 873, as a requirement before services can be authorized. A healthcare professional completes the certification. Ask your IHSS worker about obtaining and submitting the required form.

The state IHSS page explains restrictions on healthcare providers and clinics charging patients to complete IHSS eligibility forms or provide information supporting public benefit eligibility claims or appeals.

Read Your Notice of Action

The county sends a Notice of Action explaining the decision. If approved, review the authorized services, monthly hours and any share of cost. Requested services and approved services may differ.

Program payment requires approval and is limited to authorized services. Confirm the applicable service dates, provider eligibility and authorization with your worker before relying on IHSS payment.

If your needs or circumstances change, contact the worker about a reassessment.

Questions and Hearing Rights

If you disagree with a denial, reduction or other decision, promptly review the hearing rights and deadlines in your notice. The CDSS hearing request information explains official ways to request a state hearing.

Contacting your worker does not replace a hearing request or pause its deadline. If existing services are being reduced or stopped, promptly check the notice’s instructions concerning continued benefits while a hearing is pending.

Hiring a Caregiver

IHSS caregivers are also called providers. The recipient is considered the caregiver’s employer and is responsible for hiring, training, supervising, scheduling and, when necessary, dismissing the provider.

The county’s provider information and SOC 295 describe these responsibilities. Important points include:

  • Refer prospective caregivers to the provider enrollment process.
  • Ensure the total hours reported by all providers stay within your monthly authorization.
  • Notify the county IHSS office within 10 days when hiring or dismissing a provider, as stated in SOC 295.
  • Review timesheets for accuracy before approving them.
  • Pay any applicable share of cost and inform your providers.

Recipient approval and provider enrollment are separate. If you have someone work before provider approval and that person is not approved, SOC 295 states that you are responsible for paying them. Services outside your authorization can also create a personal payment obligation.

Recipients needing help finding a caregiver can contact the Public Authority Registry. Hiring additional caregivers does not increase authorized monthly hours.

Provider Enrollment and Public Authority

The IHSS Public Authority assists with caregiver enrollment, Registry services, training and payroll-related questions.

Prospective providers should follow the current caregiver enrollment instructions. Enrollment includes required identity and eligibility documents, orientation and a background check before eligibility for IHSS payment.

If you already have a recipient, have that person’s IHSS case number available when requesting an enrollment packet. If you are seeking work through the Registry, contact the Public Authority about Registry registration before proceeding with the enrollment packet.

Call 866-351-7722 for assistance. Provider enrollment does not establish a recipient’s eligibility or authorize additional care hours.

Timesheets and Payments

Electronic and Telephone Timesheets

Providers submit timesheets using an approved Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) method. Recipients review and approve their providers’ timesheets through the official Electronic Services Portal (ESP) or Telephone Timesheet System (TTS).

The state’s EVV help page provides registration, time-entry and timesheet approval instructions.

Live-In and Non-Live-In Providers

  • Live-in providers: Follow the state’s live-in self-certification instructions. Providers recognized as live-in are not required to check in and out for that recipient, but must still complete and submit timesheets.
  • Non-live-in providers: Check in and out and identify whether services occur at home or in the community using an approved method. TTS check-in and check-out use the recipient’s landline telephone.
  • Recipients: Review reported hours and approve or reject timesheets through ESP or TTS.

Providers are paid based on reported hours worked, not simply the elapsed time between check-in and check-out. EVV does not change the recipient’s service authorization.

Payment Records and Account Help

Providers can use ESP’s Financial menu and Payment Search to view payment details and download available paystubs. Review current portal instructions for paperless document preferences.

Keep your ESP username and password private. State and county staff will not contact you to request those credentials.

For ESP assistance, call the IHSS Service Desk at 866-376-7066, Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m., excluding major holidays. Contact the Public Authority for provider payroll questions and help completing timesheets.

IHSS Offices and Contacts

Aging & Independence Services Call Center: 800-339-4661 for applications and county IHSS assistance.

The county lists these offices for visiting or mailing an application. Confirm current arrangements through the official IHSS page before traveling.

San Diego County IHSS application offices
Office Address
El Cajon 389 N. Magnolia Avenue, El Cajon, CA 92020
Escondido 649 W. Mission Avenue, Suite 5, Escondido, CA 92025
National City 401 Mile of Cars Way, Suite 210, National City, CA 91950
Oceanside 3708 Ocean Ranch Boulevard, Suite 320, Oceanside, CA 92056
Overland 5560 Overland Avenue, Suite 310, San Diego, CA 92123
Southeastern Live Well Center 5101 Market Street, Suite 2100, San Diego, CA 92114

Public Authority: 866-351-7722 for caregiver enrollment, Registry assistance and provider payroll support.
IHSS Service Desk: 866-376-7066 for Electronic Services Portal assistance.

For case-specific documents, service changes and assessment questions, follow your assigned IHSS worker’s instructions rather than sending every request to the application inbox or portal help desk.