Los Angeles County In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS)

In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) helps eligible older adults and people who are blind or disabled, including children with disabilities, pay for assistance that allows them to remain safely at home. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) administers the local program.

Apply by telephone: Call 888-944-4477 or 213-744-4477. DPSS identifies the first number as toll-free within Los Angeles County.

IHSS questions and case assistance: Call the IHSS Helpline at 888-822-9622, Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., excluding holidays. You can also apply through Option 4 on its main menu.

Independent, non-government information: This website is not affiliated with DPSS. We do not accept IHSS applications, medical certifications, provider enrollment documents, or timesheets.

Services IHSS May Cover

IHSS is an alternative to out-of-home care, such as a nursing home or board-and-care facility. A county social worker assesses which covered tasks a person needs help performing safely and determines the services and time to authorize.

Depending on the assessment, assistance may include:

Housekeeping, meal preparation and cleanup, laundry, and shopping.
Bathing, grooming, dressing, eating, and toileting.
Walking, transfers, and repositioning.
Accompaniment to medical appointments or other qualifying resources.
Other covered services, including protective supervision or paramedical services when their specific requirements are met.

The list of covered categories does not mean every recipient receives every service. Authorization depends on the person's assessed needs and program rules.

Protective Supervision

Protective supervision is a specialized service for qualifying people whose mental impairment affects their ability to recognize danger and remain safe. It has separate assessment requirements and is not approved solely because a person has a particular diagnosis.

It is not general companionship, routine child care, or coverage for every type of safety concern. Discuss the person's specific needs with the social worker and review the County's protective supervision policy.

Paramedical Services

Paramedical services involve authorized tasks requiring training and direction from a licensed health care professional. Ask the social worker about the required assessment, professional authorization, and provider instructions. A general description of a task does not establish authorization to perform it.

Eligibility and Share of Cost

The official Los Angeles County IHSS page and its program brochure explain eligibility. Basic requirements include:

Being age 65 or older, blind, or disabled. Children with disabilities may qualify.
Physically residing in the United States and being a California resident.
Living in your own home or a dwelling of your choosing. Hospitals, long-term care facilities, and licensed community care facilities do not qualify as your own home for this purpose.
Having a Medi-Cal eligibility determination and applying for Medi-Cal if not already receiving it.
Meeting the applicable financial and other program requirements.
Providing the required health care certification or acceptable alternative documentation.

The County brochure also describes eligibility through Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payments (SSI/SSP), or by meeting its eligibility criteria except for income or citizenship/immigration status. Ask DPSS to evaluate the requirements that apply to your circumstances rather than assuming that receipt of SSI/SSP is mandatory for every applicant.

Eligibility and service hours are separate decisions. Meeting basic requirements does not establish a particular number of monthly hours.

Medi-Cal and Share of Cost

Medi-Cal eligibility and IHSS service authorization involve related but separate reviews. Respond to requests from both programs and keep copies of the notices you receive.

Some recipients have a Share of Cost, which is an amount they must pay toward covered services under the applicable eligibility rules. IHSS is not automatically free for every approved recipient. Ask staff to explain any Share of Cost shown on your notices and how it affects provider payment.

How to Apply

Los Angeles County lists telephone, mail, and secure fax application options. Use the current instructions and SOC 295 application available through the official IHSS page.

Apply by Telephone

888-944-4477 — identified by DPSS as toll-free within Los Angeles County.
213-744-4477 — local application number.
888-822-9622, Option 4 — IHSS Helpline application route.

Staff take application information and forward it to the appropriate IHSS office for follow-up and assessment.

Apply by Mail

Complete and print SOC 295 and mail it to:

DPSS In-Home Supportive Services
PO Box 769
Rosemead, CA 91770

Apply by Secure Fax

Fax the completed application to 562-684-4264. This is the application fax number, not a voice telephone line.

Keep a copy of the application and any mailing or fax confirmation. Later documents requested by a worker may need to go to the assigned district office rather than the central application destination.

Home Assessment

After you apply, a county social worker arranges an interview at your home to review eligibility and assess the help you need. The worker considers your ability to perform specific tasks safely and determines the time to authorize for covered services.

Be ready to explain:

Which daily tasks you can perform independently.
Which tasks require hands-on help, reminders, or prompting.
How often you need assistance and what happens when help is unavailable.
Physical or mental limitations affecting the tasks.
Changes in your needs since a previous assessment, if applicable.

Describe activities separately. Preparing a meal and feeding yourself, for example, involve different tasks. Information from family, friends, and health care professionals may also be considered when appropriate.

Organize relevant Medi-Cal and SSI/SSP information, income documents requested by the County, medical certification materials, and prior correspondence. Once assigned, keep your IHSS case number and worker's contact information available.

Follow the worker's instructions for required documents. Do not delay contacting IHSS simply because you have not yet gathered every document.

Health Care Certification

SOC 873 documents the health care professional's assessment of the applicant's limitations and need for assistance. Obtain the current form through the official IHSS page.

A qualified California-licensed health care professional acting within the scope of their license completes the professional sections. The applicant or authorized person completes the required release authorization. Return the documentation to the IHSS worker identified by the County.

The certification supports the eligibility review; it does not independently determine service hours. The social worker considers it with other relevant information.

Submission Deadline and Alternative Documentation

County policy generally gives applicants 45 calendar days from the date the certification is requested to submit a completed, signed SOC 873 or acceptable alternative documentation. Check the due date on your notice and contact your worker promptly if you expect difficulty meeting it.

Alternative documentation must meet the County's requirements. Ask the worker whether existing health care documentation is acceptable before assuming it replaces SOC 873.

Special rules address provisional approval and certain extensions. Review the County's health care certification policy and discuss any urgent circumstances with your worker. These exceptions are not automatic approvals.

District Offices and Requested Documents

Use the office assigned to your case when sending requested documents. For SOC 873, follow the worker and return instructions shown on the form or notice.

The following addresses and secure fax numbers are published in County IHSS resources. The fax numbers are for documents, not voice calls. Use the IHSS Helpline for help identifying the office handling your case.

IHSS district offices and secure fax numbers for requested documents
District office	Address	Secure fax
Burbank	3307 North Glenoaks Boulevard Burbank, CA 91504	562-286-8422
Chatsworth	21615 Plummer Street Chatsworth, CA 91311	818-450-0241
Lancaster	335-C East Avenue K-6 Lancaster, CA 93535	661-424-7849
Metro	3833 S. Vermont Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90037	213-947-4591
Monterey Park	588 Atlas Avenue Monterey Park, CA 91755	626-380-4960
Pomona	360 East Mission Boulevard Pomona, CA 91766	909-752-9402
Torrance	20101 Hamilton Avenue, Suite 150A Torrance, CA 90502	310-943-2125

Confirm current routing and visiting arrangements through the IHSS program page, your worker, or the Helpline before traveling or transmitting documents.

Hiring and Enrolling a Provider

The County sends a notice approving or denying the application. An approval identifies authorized services and monthly hours; a denial explains the reason. Read the notice and retain it with your case records.

Approved recipients generally hire an individual provider to perform authorized services. The recipient is the provider's employer and is responsible for hiring, training, supervising, and dismissing the provider.

A provider may be a family member, friend, neighbor, or another eligible person. Rules can vary with the relationship and services involved, so confirm the arrangement with IHSS.

The Personal Assistance Services Council (PASC) can help recipients locate providers to interview. Call 877-565-4477 for assistance. The recipient makes the hiring decision.

Provider Enrollment

Provider enrollment is separate from the recipient's application. County materials identify requirements including:

Completing the provider enrollment form.
Completing the required criminal background check.
Participating in provider orientation.
Signing the provider enrollment agreement.
Presenting the required government-issued photo identification and Social Security card.

Use the provider information linked from the official IHSS page for current enrollment instructions. Confirm provider eligibility, connection to the recipient's case, authorized work, and payment arrangements with the program.

Timesheets and Electronic Visit Verification

The Electronic Services Portal (ESP) supports IHSS timesheet and payroll transactions. Providers complete and submit timesheets; recipients review and approve or reject them.

ESP also provides functions such as payment status, direct deposit, and other supported payroll requests. Use the account and instructions appropriate to your role.

The County brochure lists the Telephone Timesheet System (TTS) at 833-342-5388, also known as 1-833-DIAL-EVV. Review current registration and telephone instructions before using it.

The CDSS Electronic Services page links to ESP and TTS training, login assistance, and Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) requirements. Check the EVV instructions applicable to your provider status and living arrangement.

For timesheet or electronic service assistance, contact the IHSS Service Desk at 866-376-7066. Do not share passwords or verification codes with this website.

Case Questions and Hearings

For program questions, contact your assigned worker or the IHSS Helpline at 888-822-9622. The Helpline operates Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., excluding holidays, and offers assistance in multiple languages.

The DPSS contact page also links to the IHSS Helpline Community, an online service for program information, questions, and live chat during normal business hours.

Disagreeing With a Decision

If you disagree with an eligibility decision, authorized services, a reduction, or another case action, review the Notice of Action and its hearing instructions promptly.

The general deadline to request a State Hearing is 90 days. Check the notice for the applicable dates and instructions. A request to continue existing IHSS services while a dispute is reviewed generally must be made before the proposed action takes effect.

Contacting a worker, submitting an informal complaint, or waiting for a response does not replace a hearing request or extend its deadline. Keep the notice, envelope, supporting records, and confirmation of your request.

The CDSS State Hearings information explains the process. DPSS lists 800-952-5253 for Appeals and State Hearings.

Discrimination and Access Concerns

A discrimination or disability-access complaint uses a separate process from a hearing about benefits or services. The DPSS contact page lists Civil Rights at 562-908-8501 and the ADA hotline at 844-586-5550.

If both issues apply, follow the relevant complaint process while protecting any hearing deadline.

Contacts and Assistance

IHSS application, case, provider, and hearing contacts
Service	Contact	Purpose
Telephone applications	888-944-4477 213-744-4477	Apply for IHSS by telephone. The first number is identified as toll-free within Los Angeles County.
IHSS Helpline	888-822-9622	Program and case assistance. Option 4 accepts applications. Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., excluding holidays.
Application mailing address	DPSS In-Home Supportive Services PO Box 769 Rosemead, CA 91770	Mailed SOC 295 applications. Follow assigned-office instructions for later requested documents.
Application secure fax	562-684-4264	Faxed IHSS applications. This is not a voice line.
Personal Assistance Services Council	877-565-4477	Assistance locating providers to interview and caregiver support resources.
IHSS Service Desk	866-376-7066	Timesheet and electronic service assistance.
Telephone Timesheet System	833-342-5388	Telephone timesheet functions. Follow current registration and system instructions.
Appeals and State Hearings	800-952-5253 Official hearing information	State Hearing requests and information. Review the deadline and effective date on your notice.

Published hours are Pacific Time. Confirm current contacts, holiday schedules, office arrangements, and submission instructions through the responsible agency.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a family member be my IHSS provider?

A family member may qualify, subject to provider enrollment and the rules for the particular relationship and services. Ask IHSS to confirm the requirements before relying on a caregiving or payment arrangement.

Are SOC 295 and SOC 873 the same form?

No. SOC 295 is the application for services. SOC 873 is the health care certification. Provider enrollment involves a separate process for the person who will perform the authorized work.

Where should I send documents after applying?

Follow the instructions from your assigned worker or district office. The central application fax and mailing address may differ from the destination for requested case documents.

Who decides how many hours I receive?

The County determines authorized services and hours after assessing your needs. Medical documentation supports that review but does not independently set your monthly hours.

Where do I submit or approve timesheets?

Use the Electronic Services Portal or the Telephone Timesheet System according to your registration and role. Providers submit timesheets; recipients review and approve or reject them.

What should I do if I disagree with a reduction or denial?

Read the Notice of Action and hearing instructions promptly. A worker or Helpline inquiry does not replace a formal hearing request. Check both the hearing deadline and any earlier deadline for continuing existing services.

Information on this page is drawn from the official County and State resources linked above. Program requirements, forms, contacts, and system instructions may change; confirm the current process with IHSS.

For applications, case documents, provider enrollment, timesheets, or appeals, use the designated official service. Messages and documents submitted to this website do not reach DPSS or CDSS.