What Tasks Are Not Covered by IHSS?

If you or your child receives IHSS (In-Home Supportive Services), it’s important to understand both what care is covered and what tasks are not eligible for payment.

Knowing this helps prevent errors on timesheets, avoids issues with your social worker, and ensures compliance with state regulations.

1. Tasks Not Related to the Recipient’s Health or Safety

IHSS is designed to help individuals with medical, physical, or cognitive limitations. Tasks that do not directly support health, safety, or daily functioning are generally not covered.

Examples include:

Household chores unrelated to care (deep cleaning, yard work, laundry for the whole family)
Pet care (feeding, walking, or cleaning up after pets)
Babysitting siblings or other family members
Cooking meals for the household at large, beyond the needs of the IHSS recipient

The key principle: IHSS only pays for tasks that directly benefit the eligible recipient.

2. Activities Outside Approved Hours

Even covered tasks may not be paid if performed outside your approved IHSS schedule. For instance:

Cooking meals when the recipient is away at school or work
Supervision during times the recipient does not need care
Errands not specifically required for the recipient’s medical or safety needs

Timesheets must reflect only hours actually spent providing care.

3. Activities Already Provided by Other Services

If your child or family already receives services through another program—such as school staff, therapists, or residential care programs—IHSS generally cannot duplicate those services.

Examples:

Special education staff providing daily academic or behavioral support at school
Therapy sessions covered by Medi-Cal or other programs
Meals or nutrition support provided at a licensed facility

IHSS fills gaps, it does not replace other programs.

4. Tasks That Are Not Medically Necessary

IHSS focuses on tasks required for health, safety, and daily living. Tasks that are convenience-based are not covered, such as:

Grooming beyond what is medically or developmentally necessary
Bathing or hygiene for someone who does not need assistance
Recreational activities, unless supervision is required for safety

Your social worker will assess what is necessary for your child’s care and protective supervision.

5. Travel or Transportation Not Directly Related to Care

IHSS hours may cover transportation related to medical care or necessary daily activities, but commuting unrelated to care is not covered. Examples of non-covered travel:

Driving family members to work or school
Running personal errands for the caregiver
Trips for recreation or social activities not required for safety

Tips to Avoid Timesheet Issues

Document only hours spent providing approved IHSS care
Separate household chores from recipient-specific care tasks
Keep notes from your social worker about approved tasks
Check your IHSS handbook or county guidelines for the most current list of covered and non-covered tasks

Being thorough and accurate helps prevent payroll delays or audits.

Bottom Line

IHSS is designed to support the health, safety, and daily living needs of eligible individuals. Tasks that do not directly relate to care, supervision, or medically necessary assistance are not covered.

If you’re unsure whether a task is allowed, always check with your IHSS social worker before logging it on your timesheet. Proper documentation protects both your hours and the program’s integrity.

Need help? In California, the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program provides crucial financial help for families raising children with special needs. American Advocacy Group is on the front lines every day, making positive change happen for people diagnosed with autism, Down syndrome, and a range of diagnoses across the continuum. As a leading advocate for all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families, and the premier provider of the support and services people want and need, we understand the system and know how to take action regarding your best interests.

CONTACT US FOR HELP. Dial (877) 762-0702 or email us at [email protected].

Do IHSS Hours Stop if My Child Goes to School Part-Time?

If your child receives IHSS (In-Home Supportive Services) and attends school part-time, you may be wondering:

“Will my IHSS hours be reduced? Do I still get paid for providing care during school hours?”

Understanding how IHSS interacts with school attendance is crucial to making sure your child continues to receive the care they need—and that you get properly compensated as a parent provider.

IHSS Hours Are Based on Care Needs, Not School Hours

IHSS hours are approved based on your child’s functional needs and medical requirements, not strictly the hours they spend at home.

This means:

If your child still needs care before school, after school, or during breaks, IHSS hours are still valid.
School attendance may affect the hours only for the times your child is at school and fully supervised there.

In other words, attending school part-time does not automatically eliminate your IHSS hours.

What Care Is Covered During School Hours?

Even if your child is in school part-time, IHSS may still cover:

Transportation to and from school
Supervision and care before or after school
Special needs support during school breaks or holidays
Medical care or therapy needs that occur outside school hours
Protective supervision if your child has behaviors or medical conditions requiring monitoring at home

The key question is whether your child needs your care during the times they are not in school.

What to Do When School Hours Change

If your child’s school schedule changes (e.g., part-time attendance, hybrid learning, or summer programs):

Notify your IHSS social worker.
Provide updated documentation about school hours and any care needs outside of school.
Request a reassessment if needed, especially if you believe the changes affect the number of hours you require.

IHSS wants to ensure that hours match your child’s actual care needs—no more, no less.

Can Parents Still Be Paid During School Hours?

Parents are generally not paid for IHSS hours during times their child is fully supervised at school.

However, you can still be approved for hours that cover:

Time spent transporting your child
Supervision before or after school
Care during sick days, early dismissals, or school holidays

Always track your child’s schedule carefully to ensure timesheets reflect the hours you are actually providing IHSS care.

Tips to Protect Your Hours

Keep a daily care log showing when your child is home and needs supervision.
Save school schedules and holiday calendars.
Maintain medical and therapy documentation showing ongoing care needs.
Communicate promptly with your IHSS social worker about any schedule changes.

Proactive documentation helps avoid unnecessary reductions in your IHSS hours.

Bottom Line

Attending school part-time does not automatically reduce IHSS hours. Hours are based on your child’s care needs outside of school, including supervision, transportation, and medical or behavioral support.

By staying organized, keeping documentation, and communicating with your social worker, you can ensure your child continues to receive the support they need—and that you are properly compensated as a parent provider.

CONTACT US FOR HELP. Dial (877) 762-0702 or email us at [email protected].

Do I Need to Submit IHSS Timesheets on Weekends or Holidays?

If you are an IHSS provider, keeping accurate records of your hours is essential to getting paid correctly. One common question that comes up is whether timesheets need to be submitted for weekends, holidays, or days when services might be different than usual. Understanding how IHSS timesheets work can prevent delays in payment and help you stay in compliance with program rules.

How IHSS Timesheets Work

IHSS providers must submit timesheets to report the hours worked for each recipient. This includes:

Personal care services (bathing, feeding, dressing, toileting)
Protective supervision
Domestic services (meal preparation, cleaning, laundry)

Timesheets are typically submitted monthly, either on paper or electronically via the Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) system, depending on your county.

Weekends and Holidays

Whether you need to record hours on weekends or holidays depends on whether services were actually provided:

If services are provided:
- You must submit hours worked, just as you would on a weekday.
- For example, if you bathed, fed, or supervised the recipient on Saturday, those hours must be recorded.
If no services are provided:
- You do not report hours for that day.
- IHSS does not pay for days when services are not rendered, including holidays when the recipient does not require care.
If a partial day of service is provided:
- Record only the actual hours worked. For example, if you provide protective supervision for four hours on a holiday, you report those four hours, not a full day.

Best Practices for Timesheets

To avoid errors or delays in payment:

Record hours daily: Even if you plan to submit timesheets monthly, tracking daily ensures accuracy.
Include all services: Make sure to list every type of care you provided, including protective supervision.
Double-check for accuracy: Mistakes or omissions can delay payment.
Submit on time: Late timesheets can result in delayed paychecks or rejected submissions.
Keep copies: Maintain a personal record of your timesheets in case questions arise.

Special Considerations

Some counties may have specific instructions for holidays or weekends, so it’s a good idea to check with your IHSS office.
If your recipient is hospitalized or temporarily away, hours should only be reported for days when care was actually provided.
Electronic systems (EVV) often require clocking in and out, which serves as your official record for weekends and holidays.

Key Takeaway

You only need to submit IHSS timesheets for hours actually worked, including weekends and holidays when care is provided. Days without service should not be reported. Maintaining accurate daily records and following your county’s reporting rules ensures that you are paid correctly and avoids complications with your IHSS account.

CONTACT US FOR HELP. Dial (877) 762-0702 or email us at [email protected].

Can Protective Supervision Be Combined with Other IHSS Services?

For many families receiving In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), one of the most important types of care is protective supervision—the service that provides 24-hour monitoring for individuals who need constant observation to remain safe in their own homes. Parents and caregivers often ask whether protective supervision can be combined with other IHSS services like personal care, meal preparation, or domestic chores.

The answer is yes, protective supervision can be combined with other IHSS services, but there are rules about how hours are counted and when services overlap. Understanding these rules can help you make sure your family member receives the right level of support and that your IHSS hours are properly allocated.

What Is Protective Supervision?

Protective supervision is available for IHSS recipients who require constant monitoring to prevent injury, self-harm, or unsafe behavior. It’s typically approved for individuals who cannot recognize or avoid dangerous situations due to a mental impairment, developmental disability, or certain medical conditions.

This service does not involve performing a specific physical task; rather, it covers the time you spend observing and intervening to keep your loved one safe.

Combining Protective Supervision with Other IHSS Services

Protective supervision can and often should be combined with other IHSS services because most individuals who qualify for protective supervision also need hands-on assistance with daily living tasks. These may include:

Personal care services (bathing, dressing, toileting, feeding).
Domestic services (cleaning, laundry).
Meal preparation and cleanup.
Accompaniment to medical appointments.

However, the key distinction is that protective supervision hours cannot duplicate or overlap with the time spent on other tasks.

How IHSS Calculates Overlapping Time

During an IHSS assessment, the social worker determines how many hours are needed for each service category.
Here’s how overlap is handled:

When you are performing a personal care task, such as bathing or feeding your child, that time is counted as personal care—not as protective supervision.
When you are not actively performing another task, but still need to observe and intervene to keep your child safe, that time counts as protective supervision.

In short, you can receive both types of hours, but the hours are not stacked for the same period of time.

Example

If your child requires help with meals and must also be constantly watched to prevent unsafe behavior, you can receive hours for both meal preparation and protective supervision—but not for the exact same minutes. For example:

Meal preparation: 30 minutes for preparing and serving food.
Protective supervision: Additional hours throughout the day when your child is not eating but still needs to be monitored for safety.

The social worker will total the hours for all services while ensuring that overlapping time isn’t double-counted.

Documenting the Need for Both

To support a request for both protective supervision and other IHSS services, you’ll need clear documentation showing that your loved one needs:

Continuous supervision to prevent injury or harm.
Physical assistance with daily living activities.

Useful evidence includes:

Doctor’s letters or behavioral assessments.
Daily logs showing how much time you spend on care tasks versus supervision.
School or therapy reports confirming that your child requires constant monitoring.

Why It Matters

Protective supervision often provides the largest number of IHSS hours, but it does not replace the need for other essential services. By ensuring both categories are approved, caregivers can receive the full recognition—and compensation—for the wide range of tasks they perform each day.

Key Takeaway

Protective supervision can be combined with other IHSS services such as personal care and meal preparation, but hours for each service are tracked separately. The goal is to make sure that the total number of IHSS hours accurately reflects both the hands-on care and the ongoing supervision required to keep your family member safe.

CONTACT US FOR HELP. Dial (877) 762-0702 or email us at [email protected].

Parent Providers: What Happens at Age 18?

For parents caring for children with disabilities, turning 18 is a major milestone—not just for the child, but for how certain support programs work. One common question is whether IHSS (In-Home Supportive Services) rules change when a child turns 18, particularly for parents who serve as their child’s paid caregiver.

The answer is yes, the rules do change—and in most cases, they become more favorable for the parent provider.

What Changes When a Child Turns 18?

When a child receiving IHSS turns 18, they become a legal adult in the eyes of the program. This means the rules about “legally responsible relatives” no longer apply in the same way.

Under IHSS guidelines, parents of minor children (under 18) are considered legally responsible for their child’s care and are only paid as providers in limited situations—for example, when no other caregiver is available, and the child’s needs go well beyond typical parenting responsibilities.

However, once the child becomes an adult, these restrictions are lifted. The IHSS recipient (now 18 or older) is considered responsible for directing their own care, and they can choose any eligible person to be their provider—including a parent.

What This Means for You as a Parent

After your child turns 18:

You no longer need to prove that you're the only available caregiver in the home.
You don’t have to show that you left your job in order to provide care (although availability still matters for scheduling).
You can be paid for all approved IHSS services, including personal care, domestic tasks, and protective supervision.
The assessment of hours is based entirely on the adult child’s needs—not your legal responsibility as a parent.

This often results in fewer barriers to becoming (or continuing as) a paid caregiver under IHSS.

Important Steps When Your Child Turns 18

Update the IHSS Case
Notify your county IHSS office that your child is turning 18. This ensures their case is correctly transitioned to adult status.
Appoint an Authorized Representative, if needed
If your child is unable to manage their own care decisions due to cognitive or developmental disabilities, you may need to be designated as their Authorized Representative or obtain conservatorship. This allows you to help manage services and IHSS paperwork.
Reassess Services and Hours
Consider requesting a reassessment of IHSS hours if your child’s care needs have changed. Turning 18 may also be a good time to review whether their current services reflect their actual support needs.
Update Medi-Cal Status
IHSS is a Medi-Cal program. Make sure your child’s Medi-Cal case is updated to reflect adult status. Some benefits change at age 18, and eligibility may need to be re-evaluated.

Can You Still Be the IHSS Provider if Your Adult Child Lives with You?

Yes. In fact, many adult IHSS recipients choose a parent to be their provider, especially if they continue living at home. As long as you complete the required IHSS provider enrollment, pass the background check, and your child (or their representative) selects you, you can remain—or become—their paid caregiver.

Final Thoughts

When your child turns 18, IHSS rules shift in a way that generally makes it easier for you to be their paid provider. The program recognizes their status as an adult, removing restrictions that apply to caregiving for minors.

It’s still important to keep your documentation up to date and to communicate with your IHSS social worker about any changes. But for many families, this milestone offers more flexibility and security in continuing to provide care at home.

CONTACT US FOR HELP. Dial (877) 762-0702 or email us at [email protected].