In-Home Supportive Services

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The In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Program provides assistance to eligible aged, blind, and disabled individuals, including children, who are unable to remain safely in their own homes without support. IHSS helps pay for in-home services and serves as an alternative to out-of-home care, such as nursing homes or board and care facilities, allowing individuals to maintain independence and safely remain in their homes.

In Madera County, IHSS serves approximately 1,677 recipients with the support of about 1,300 individual providers. Providers may be a relative, a person selected by the consumer, or someone matched through the Public Authority Registry. These providers play a critical role in helping individuals live safely at home and avoid institutional care.

Authorized IHSS services may include housecleaning, meal preparation, laundry, grocery shopping, and personal care services such as bathing, grooming, and bowel and bladder care. Additional services can include paramedical services, accompaniment to medical appointments, and protective supervision for individuals with cognitive impairments.

Authorized services may include housecleaning, meal preparation, laundry, grocery shopping, personal care (such as bathing, grooming, and bowel and bladder care), paramedical services, accompaniment to medical appointments, and protective supervision for individuals with cognitive impairments.

Who May be Eligible for IHSS

To qualify for IHSS services, an individual must meet the following basic conditions:

Be aged 65 or older, blind, or disabled (children may also be eligible)
Be unable to live safely at home without assistance
Meet financial eligibility requirements

Eligibility Criteria for All IHSS Applicants and Recipients:

Must have full-scope Medi-Cal eligibility
Must submit a completed Health Care Certification form
Must physically reside in the United States
Must be a resident of California
Must live in their own home (acute care hospitals, long-term care facilities, and licensed community care facilities are not considered a person’s “own home”)

How to Apply

Complete an IHSS Application

Please call the Madera County Department of Social Services office to apply at (559) 662-2600.

Complete Health Care Certification

Complete a Health Care Certification (SOC 873) and submit it to the Social Services Department. A completed Health Care Certification must be received before the County is able to authorize services.

County Social Worker Interview

A Madera County Social Worker conducts an in-home interview with the applicant to determine eligibility for IHSS and assess their level of need. During the visit, the Social Worker evaluates the applicant’s ability to safely perform daily tasks and determines which services are required, as well as the number of hours authorized for each. The assessment is based on information provided by the applicant and, when appropriate, input from family members, friends, a physician, or another licensed health care professional.

Applicant Notified

An applicant is notified whether their IHSS application has been approved or denied. If denied, the notice will include the reason for the decision. If approved, the applicant will receive information outlining the authorized services and the number of hours approved per month for each service.

Applicant Approved

If approved for IHSS, the recipient must hire a provider (caregiver) to perform the authorized services. The recipient is considered the provider’s employer and is responsible for hiring, training, supervising, and, if necessary, terminating the provider.

Finding a Provider

If a Recipient does not have a Provider, they may request a referral from the IHSS Public Authority Caregiver Registry. Contact your IHSS Social Worker to request a referral.

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