In-Home Supportive Services

The In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program is a federal, state, and locally funded program designed to provide assistance to those eligible aged, blind, and disabled individuals who, without this care, would be unable to remain safely in their own homes. IHSS provides services according to the IHSS recipient’s ability to perform daily activities, and can include feeding, bathing, dressing, housekeeping, laundry, shopping, meal preparation and clean up, respiration, bowel & bladder care, moving in and out of bed, rubbing the skin (to prevent skin breakdown), accompaniment to medical appointments, paramedical services, and protective supervision.

IHSS recipients are responsible for locating their own independent providers, for hiring and supervising their independent providers, and for firing the independent provider if the services are not performed according to the client’s specifications. Additionally, the Council on Aging Public Authority Services maintains a registry of individuals available to work as independent providers.

Who Qualifies for IHSS

To be eligible for IHSS, you must be receiving Medi-Cal, be blind, disabled, or 65 years of age or older, AND be unable to live at home safely without help. If you are not currently receiving Medi-Cal, please contact the Santa Clara County Social Services Agency’s Assistance Application Center (408) 817-6000 for further details about Medi-Cal eligibility.

IHSS Social Workers determine if you qualify for IHSS by assessing your functional need for specific services and by identifying the amount of time to be allotted for the performance of services. Depending on the amount of your monthly income, you may be required to pay a share of cost for these services.

How to Apply for IHSS

To apply for IHSS, call the Santa Clara County IHSS offices at 408-975-4899 and provide the following information:

  • Name, gender, address, telephone number, date of birth, social security number, Medi-Cal number, ethnicity, and language spoken; spouse’s name, social security number, and date of birth; guardian or contact’s name, relationship, and telephone.
  • Information related to housing and income, if known; medical problems or diagnoses, including name of medical doctor, address and telephone number; and client’s level of mobility or function (e.g., walks alone or bedbound).
  • Information about supportive resources currently being used, if known (e.g., Home Health Agency, Meals-on-Wheels, etc.).

For Providers of In-Home Supportive Services
“WHO DO I CALL?”


CALL THE IHSS MAIN NUMBER 408-975-4899 or TOLL FREE 1-866-668-2412 WHEN:

  • You need a time card
  • You need tax forms – W-2, W-4, DE-4
  • You haven’t received your paycheck
  • You need to report a work injury
  • You need general information about the IHSS program
  • You change your address, phone number, name, etc.

FOR DIRECT DEPOSIT OF PROVIDER CHECKS, CALL 1-866-376-7066

CALL THE Council on Aging Public Authority Services FOR THE FOLLOWING SERVICES:

CALL 408-350-3251 FOR THE REGISTRY WHEN:

  • You want to sign up to be listed in the Public Authority Registry as an Independent Provider
  • You do not have a client, or you have a client but would like additional work
  • You have any change to your initial Registry application
  • You are a Registry provider and you start or stop working or go on any type of extended leave
  • You want to remove your name from the IHSS Registry
  • You want to make an appointment for an IHSS Registry interview
  • You want to speak to the Registry staff
  • You change your address, phone number, name, etc.
    *If you are a Registry provider and you are reporting your work availability once every month,
    CALL 408-350-3253

CALL 408-350-3290 FOR BENEFITS WHEN:

  • You need information on your eligibility for medical, dental, or vision benefits and the service providers of those benefits
  • You need to request enrollment packets to apply for benefits
  • You need to know the eligibility criteria and cost of coverage
  • You need information on the free ECO PASS

CALL 408-350-3206 WHEN:

  • You want to sign up for home care provider training

CALL 408-350-3252 FOR THE PROVIDER ENROLLMENT PROCESS WHEN:

  • You have a client who wants you to work for them and you need information about the state requirements for becoming an IHSS provider
  • Visit the Public Authority Website at: ihss.pascc.org to begin the enrollment process

CALL 408-678-3300 OR 1-877-734-8521 FOR UNION LOCAL 521

IHSS Social Services
333 West Julian Street
San Jose, Ca. 95110