IHSS Provider Resources
The following links are resources to become an IHSS provider.
IHSS Provider Enrollment Process
Upon approval of the recipient’s service authorizations, the social worker will assist the recipient in obtaining an IHSS care provider. Care providers may include, but are not limited to, family members, friends, neighbors, or registered providers through the public authority.
Time Sheet Processing
After the care provider has been successfully enrolled and is approved as the IHSS provider, they will be able to electronically access retroactive timesheets to the date of assignment of a recipient. The IHSS program has two pay periods from the 1st through the 15th and the 16th through the end of the month. Providers will complete the timesheets based on the authorized hours they provided care to the IHSS recipient. Providers and recipients will electronically sign and submit timesheets in the Electronic Services Portal (ESP).
IHSS Provider Information
Once you have become an IHSS provider, the following are resources intended to help you as you provide services to your IHSS recipient:
Live-In IHSS/WPCS Providers
Beginning January 2017, providers now have the option to self-certify living arrangements to exclude IHSS/WPCS wages from federal income tax and state tax by completing and submitting appropriate forms. For more information and forms, go to the Live-In Provider Self-Certification Information webpage.
Direct Deposit
With Direct Deposit, your IHSS/WPCS paycheck is deposited directly into your checking or savings account, or onto a pay card of your choice, instead of being mailed to you through the U.S. Post Office. A pay card is a reloadable card you can use for direct deposit and to make purchases and withdrawals. Learn more about pay cards and online direct deposit service.
Direct Deposit eliminates the possibility of a provider’s paper paycheck being lost in the mail or stolen from their mailbox. Additionally, providers may have access to their money sooner because they don’t have to wait for the paper warrant to be delivered through the post office.
The Online Direct Deposit Enrollment Service allows current, active IHSS/WPCS providers in all California counties the ability to electronically enroll, change or dis-enroll via the CDSS IHSS ESP website, instead of using a paper form. The paper enrollment form is available on the CDSS website for those who want to use it.
CalSavers: Helping Providers Prepare for their Future
California workers, whose employers do not offer a retirement plan or are self-employed, have an opportunity to contribute to an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) they control. CalSavers is a retirement program designed for all California individuals, including IHSS/WPCS providers.
The CalSavers Retirement Program offers IHSS providers:
- Ability to contribute to a Roth Individual Retirement Account (IRA) that belongs to the IHSS/WPCS provider
- Participation is completely voluntary: The IHSS/WPCS provider can opt out or back-in at any time
- Ability to stick with the standard options for savings rates and investments or choose their own
- Flexibility to keep their account even if they change recipients or jobs
You can learn more about CalSavers at www.calsavers.com
Beginning January 1, 2024, IHSS/WPCS providers may opt-in to deduct CalSavers contributions directly from their service-related paychecks. Once enrolled, IHSS/WPCS providers may view their current CalSavers deduction amount and year-to-date total on their paystub or at the Payment Details screen in their Electronic Services Portal (ESP) account.
How Do I Get Started?