Can School Reduce IHSS Hours?

Your child starts school, and shortly afterward you receive an IHSS Notice of Action showing fewer hours. Naturally, you may wonder: Did IHSS reduce the hours simply because my child now attends school?

School attendance can affect certain IHSS calculations, but starting school does not automatically mean your child needs less IHSS care.

The county must still assess your child’s individual needs. It should look at which services the school provides, which services your child still needs at home, and whether your child’s disability-related needs have actually changed.

Why Does School Affect IHSS?

IHSS pays for specific services that help a person with a disability remain safely at home.

For children, those services can include personal care, certain domestic and related services, accompaniment, paramedical services, and protective supervision when the child meets the requirements. 

When your child attends school, the school may provide some assistance during the school day.

California IHSS guidance treats services that a child receives at school as an alternative resource that the county should consider during an IHSS assessment. County social workers should document the services a child receives at school and from other sources. 

That does not mean the county can simply subtract every hour your child spends at school from their IHSS authorization.

The county needs to look at the actual services involved.

Can IHSS Pay Me for Care While My Child Is at School?

Generally, IHSS does not pay a parent or other provider for a service that the school or another program is already providing during the same period.

For example, if school staff provide toileting assistance, feeding assistance, or another support during the school day, IHSS generally would not pay a parent provider to perform that same service while the child is at school.

But your child may still need extensive assistance:

The county should assess those needs separately.

Simply attending school does not establish that your child has become more independent at home.

What About Protective Supervision?

Protective supervision creates some of the most common disputes involving school and IHSS.

IHSS protective supervision helps certain recipients who cannot safely direct their own behavior because of a mental impairment or mental illness and who need observation and intervention to prevent injury, hazards, or accidents. 

To qualify, the recipient must have a need for 24-hour supervision. For a minor, the county must also determine that the child needs more supervision than a child of the same age without the disability. 

A child does not necessarily stop needing protective supervision simply because they attend school.

In fact, California's IHSS training guidance recognizes school as one way that families can meet part of a child's 24-hour supervision needs. The school may supervise the child during the school day while parents, IHSS providers, family members, or other resources cover other periods. 

My Child Behaves Better at School. Can IHSS Use That Against Us?

The county may review school records, including an Individualized Education Program (IEP), when it assesses protective supervision.

That does not mean good behavior at school automatically proves that your child no longer needs protective supervision.

The school environment may provide:

California's own protective-supervision training specifically tells assessors to investigate whether a child avoids dangerous behavior at school because school staff intervene and supervise the child. 

That distinction matters.

A child who stays safe because an aide constantly redirects them has not necessarily gained the ability to recognize danger independently.

School Records Can Actually Support an IHSS Case

Parents sometimes worry that giving IHSS an IEP will hurt their case.

In many situations, school records can provide important evidence of a child's limitations.

An IEP or school report might document:

California specifically recognizes IEPs and similar records as evidence that social workers may consider when evaluating protective supervision. 

The key is reading the entire record.

A statement such as “student follows the classroom routine” may sound like independence when taken alone. But the same IEP may show that the student follows the routine only because staff provide constant prompting and supervision.

What If IHSS Says My Child Is Now “Self-Directing”?

Ask what evidence supports that conclusion.

Protective supervision focuses heavily on whether the recipient can recognize danger and make appropriate decisions to avoid harm.

California requires counties to assess a child's memory, orientation, and judgment individually. The county should not base its decision solely on the child's age or the fact that the child functions successfully in a highly structured environment. 

Disability Rights California has documented a case in which a county drastically reduced a child's IHSS hours after relying on school records that showed the child could follow a classroom routine. Additional school, medical, and regional-center evidence showed that the child still lacked the judgment to recognize danger, and the county restored the hours. 

That example shows why parents should examine exactly what the county relied on when it reduced protective supervision.

What If My Child Needs More Help Before and After School?

Tell the social worker exactly what happens during those periods.

For example, your child may require help with:

Do not simply say, “I help my child before and after school.”

Describe what you actually do, how often you do it, how long it takes, and why your child cannot safely complete the task without assistance.

IHSS bases hours on the child's actual functional limitations and the amount of help the child needs. 

Does Summer Break Automatically Increase IHSS Hours?

Not necessarily.

A school-year schedule can affect how families meet a child's care needs, but IHSS does not automatically create a completely different authorization every time school closes for a holiday or summer vacation.

This is one reason parents should determine exactly why the county reduced the hours.

If the county identified school as an alternative resource for a particular service, ask how it calculated that service and whether the calculation accurately reflects the child's needs throughout the year.

Do not assume that “your child goes to school now” provides a complete explanation for a permanent reduction.

Review Your Notice of Action

If IHSS reduces your child's hours after they start school, compare the new Notice of Action with the previous one.

Look at exactly which service changed.

Did the county reduce:

Then ask the social worker to explain the reason for each change.

You can also request copies of the county's current and previous assessments, including the SOC 293 and the social worker's case notes. Disability Rights California recommends comparing the old and new assessment records when challenging an IHSS reduction. 

What Evidence Should Parents Gather?

If you believe the reduction does not reflect your child's actual needs, gather evidence that shows what assistance and supervision your child still requires.

Useful records may include:

Pay particular attention to documents that show how much support the school provides.

If your child succeeds at school because three adults closely supervise and redirect them throughout the day, the county should not interpret that success as proof that your child suddenly functions independently.

Can You Appeal an IHSS Reduction?

Yes.

If you disagree with a reduction, you can request a state fair hearing.

Timing matters.

According to Disability Rights California's current 2026 fair-hearing guidance, you can request aid paid pending if you appeal before the reduction takes effect. When you qualify for aid paid pending, your existing services generally continue while you wait for the hearing decision. If you miss that deadline, you generally still have 90 days from receiving the Notice of Action to request a hearing. 

Parents should act quickly after receiving a reduction notice rather than waiting until the lower hours begin.

Starting School Does Not Automatically Mean Your Child Needs Less Care

School can affect an IHSS assessment because the school may provide certain services and supervision during the school day.

But the county must still assess your child's individual needs.

Starting school does not automatically prove that your child:

If the county reduced your child's IHSS hours shortly after school started, find out exactly which services the county reduced and why.

Review the Notice of Action, request the assessment records, compare the old and new calculations, and examine any school records the county used to make its decision.

If the reduction does not accurately reflect your child's disability-related needs, an IHSS attorney or advocate can review the county's assessment and help determine whether you should challenge the decision.

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].

Therapy and IHSS Hours

Attending therapy does not automatically reduce a child’s total IHSS hours. However, a parent provider generally may claim only the authorized services actually provided during the reported time.

Therapy can affect claimable hours when the therapist, clinic, school, or another program is meeting the child’s needs during the appointment. It may also affect whether travel, accompaniment, waiting, or Protective Supervision can be claimed.

The answer depends on:

Authorized Hours Are Not Automatically Reduced

A child’s monthly IHSS hours are established through an individual county assessment. The social worker determines which services the child needs and how much time should be authorized for each service.

Starting occupational therapy, speech therapy, physical therapy, behavioral therapy, or another service does not automatically remove hours from the child’s IHSS case.

The county must evaluate whether the therapy changes the child’s actual need for IHSS services. A reduction should ordinarily be communicated through a new Notice of Action rather than being made informally by telling the parent to claim fewer hours.

You May Claim Only Services You Actually Provide

Even when the child’s monthly authorization remains unchanged, the provider may claim only authorized IHSS services that were actually performed.

California’s provider notice states that IHSS pays only for authorized hours and services. A provider should not claim time merely because the hours appear on the child’s Notice of Action.

For example, a parent generally should not claim personal-care time during an appointment if the therapist or clinic staff performed the entire task and the parent provided no authorized assistance.

The parent may still perform other authorized services before, during, or after the appointment, such as:

The provider’s timesheet should reflect the services actually performed, not simply the length of the therapy appointment.

Is Therapy an Alternative Resource?

A therapy program may be treated as an alternative resource when it provides services that would otherwise be provided through IHSS.

California requires social workers to identify services available through other agencies or programs and use those resources in place of IHSS-funded services when they meet the assessed need at no cost to the recipient or the IHSS program.

This does not mean that every therapy appointment replaces all IHSS services. The county should identify the specific service the therapy program provides and determine whether it actually duplicates an authorized IHSS service.

For example, a one-hour speech therapy appointment does not necessarily replace assistance with bathing, dressing, feeding, toileting, meal preparation, or other care required throughout the week.

How Therapy Can Affect Protective Supervision

Protective Supervision may be provided through IHSS, alternative resources, voluntary resources, or a combination of those arrangements. Alternative resources may include child day care centers, community programs, or respite centers.

A therapy program may function as an alternative resource during the period when its staff assumes responsibility for supervising the child. In that situation, the parent generally should not claim Protective Supervision for the same period merely because the parent remains nearby.

The facts may be different when:

Parents should document exactly what the therapist handles and what the parent must continue doing. Simply being required to remain at the facility does not always establish that the parent is providing a compensable IHSS service.

Can I Claim Travel Time?

IHSS may authorize accompaniment to appointments with physicians, dentists, and other health practitioners when the recipient requires assistance to accomplish the travel.

Medical accompaniment is not intended merely to pay for transportation. The child must need assistance with an authorized IHSS task while traveling or while getting to and from the destination.

Possible examples include assistance with:

Do not assume that driving a child to therapy is automatically payable. Ask the social worker whether accompaniment has been assessed and included in the child’s authorized services.

Can I Claim Time While Waiting?

Whether wait time is compensable depends on whether the provider is “engaged to wait” or “waiting to be engaged.”

A provider may be engaged to wait when the appointment’s duration is unpredictable and the provider cannot leave or use the time for personal purposes because assistance may be required at any moment.

Wait time at an alternative-resource site is not typically compensable when the child can be dropped off and picked up later, allowing the provider to use the appointment time for personal activities.

Important questions include:

Remaining in the lobby by choice does not necessarily make the entire appointment payable.

What If the Therapist Requires Me to Participate?

Parent training and participation may be important parts of a child’s treatment, but not every activity required by a therapist is automatically an IHSS service.

The county should determine whether the parent is performing an authorized IHSS task or participating as part of the therapy program.

For example, a therapist may ask a parent to observe a session, learn behavioral techniques, or discuss the child’s progress. These activities may be valuable but are not necessarily covered IHSS services.

The analysis may be different when the parent must provide an already-authorized service during the appointment, such as toileting assistance, transfers, feeding, mobility assistance, or a paramedical procedure.

Ask the therapist to provide a written explanation of:

This information can help the social worker decide whether accompaniment, wait time, or another IHSS service should be authorized.

What About Therapy Provided at Home?

The presence of a therapist in the home does not automatically suspend every IHSS service.

The relevant question is who is performing the authorized task. A parent may continue claiming an authorized service when the parent is actually providing it and the therapist is not.

However, the parent should not claim time for a task performed entirely by the therapist or another paid program. IHSS generally should not pay twice for the same service during the same period.

Keep a clear record showing:

Can Therapy Improve My Child’s Skills and Reduce Hours?

Therapy may eventually improve a child’s ability to perform certain tasks. If the child becomes more independent, the county may reassess the time needed for those particular services.

Attendance alone does not prove improvement. The county should evaluate the child’s current functioning and the assistance still required.

For example, attending occupational therapy does not establish that a child can now dress independently. The assessment should consider whether the child can complete each part of dressing safely, reliably, and without unreasonable physical or emotional stress.

Parents should describe what the child can do independently, what still requires assistance, how often prompting is needed, and whether skills demonstrated in therapy carry over into everyday life.

Keep a Therapy and Care Log

Maintain records showing how therapy affects the child’s care.

Include:

Also keep appointment confirmations, treatment plans, therapist statements, attendance records, and the child’s IHSS Notices of Action.

Ask the County for a Clear Explanation

When a social worker says therapy will reduce IHSS hours, ask which specific service is being reduced and why.

Questions may include:

Do not voluntarily reduce the hours claimed based only on a vague verbal statement. At the same time, do not claim appointment time unless an authorized IHSS service was actually provided.

Talk to an IHSS Attorney or Advocate

Attending therapy does not automatically reduce a child’s IHSS authorization. Therapy may affect claimable time when another resource assumes responsibility for the child or provides the same service IHSS would otherwise cover.

An IHSS attorney or qualified advocate can review the child’s Notice of Action, therapy schedule, Protective Supervision calculation, and the services the parent performs during appointments. They can also help determine whether accompaniment or wait time should have been assessed.

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].

Providing IHSS for Multiple Children

Yes, a parent may generally serve as the IHSS provider for more than one child who receives services. Each child must have an individual IHSS case, be authorized for services, and designate the parent as a provider.

The parent must also complete the IHSS provider-enrollment process and comply with the workweek, overtime, timesheet, and service-hour rules that apply when one provider works for multiple recipients.

Each Child Must Qualify Separately

Having one child who receives IHSS does not automatically make another child eligible. The county must separately assess each child’s disabilities, functional limitations, authorized services, and monthly hours.

The assessment may consider information from the parent, child, physicians, therapists, family members, and other professionals. After completing the assessment, the county issues a Notice of Action identifying the services and hours authorized for that particular child.

A parent providing services for two children will therefore have:

Hours authorized for one child cannot simply be transferred to the other child.

Can a Parent Be the Provider?

Current California rules allow minor recipients enrolled in the Community First Choice Option, IHSS Plus Option, or IHSS Residual program to select a parent as their provider, provided that the parent successfully completes provider enrollment.

The previous rules requiring a parent to leave or be prevented from obtaining full-time employment were eliminated. Minor recipients generally now have access to the provider of their choice in the same manner as adult recipients.

An important exception applies to minor recipients enrolled in the Personal Care Services Program, commonly called PCSP. Federal restrictions continue to prevent a parent from being the paid provider for a minor child enrolled in that program. Counties should consider the family’s preference for a parent provider when determining the appropriate IHSS subprogram.

Parents should tell the county that they want to serve as the provider for each child so the correct provider assignment and program funding can be established.

Provider Enrollment Is Still Required

Being the child’s parent does not eliminate the regular provider-enrollment requirements.

A parent who wants to receive payment must generally:

Once enrolled, the parent must be assigned as a provider to each child’s case. The provider-enrollment rules remain separate from the rules determining whether the parent may be selected as the child’s provider.

The 66-Hour Weekly Limit

When one provider works for two or more IHSS recipients, California generally limits that provider to a combined total of 66 hours per workweek.

This is a provider-level limit. It applies to the total hours the parent claims for all children and any other IHSS or Waiver Personal Care Services recipients for whom the parent works.

For example, suppose a parent is assigned:

The combined assignment is 75 hours. Unless an exemption applies, the parent generally cannot personally work and claim all 75 hours during the same workweek. The family may need another enrolled provider to perform the remaining authorized services.

An IHSS workweek begins at 12:00 a.m. on Sunday and ends at 11:59 p.m. on Saturday. Providers working for multiple recipients are responsible for keeping their combined hours within the applicable weekly limit.

Overtime After 40 Hours

An IHSS provider is generally paid overtime when the provider works more than 40 hours during a workweek.

A parent working for two children might therefore receive regular pay for the first 40 combined hours and overtime pay for additional authorized hours, subject to the 66-hour weekly limit.

Overtime eligibility does not authorize a provider to exceed:

Working unauthorized overtime or exceeding the workweek limits can result in program violations. Repeated violations may eventually affect the provider’s ability to continue working through IHSS.

What If the Children Have More Than 66 Combined Hours?

The children do not lose their remaining authorized hours merely because one parent reaches the provider limit. However, another enrolled provider may need to work the hours that the parent cannot claim.

Another provider might be:

The additional person must complete provider enrollment and be formally assigned to the appropriate child’s case before receiving payment.

Families should not submit all of the hours under one parent’s name when the parent is not legally permitted to work that number of hours. The children’s authorized hours and the parent’s provider workweek limit are separate issues.

Are Exemptions Available?

Some providers who work for multiple recipients may qualify to exceed the usual 66-hour limit.

Live-In Family Care Provider Exemption

The Live-In Family Care Provider Exemption can permit qualifying providers to work up to 90 hours per week and 360 hours per month.

However, this exemption is largely grandfathered. The provider generally must have been serving two or more qualifying live-in family-member recipients on or before January 31, 2016. Providers assigned after that date generally cannot qualify for this exemption.

Extraordinary Circumstances Exemption

The Extraordinary Circumstances Exemption may permit a provider to work up to 90 hours per week and 360 hours per month for multiple recipients.

Each recipient served by the provider must generally satisfy at least one of the following conditions:

The recipients must also generally make reasonable attempts to locate and hire additional providers. Prior attempts that negatively affected a recipient’s health or safety may be considered. The provider or recipients may submit the SOC 2305 exemption request to the county IHSS office.

A parent caring for multiple children with complex medical or behavioral needs may want to ask the county whether the Extraordinary Circumstances Exemption could apply.

Protective Supervision May Be Prorated

Families with more than one child receiving Protective Supervision should understand the rules for shared supervision.

When two or more IHSS recipients live together and both require Protective Supervision, California generally treats the supervision as a common need and prorates it between the recipients. The county should still assess each child’s individual need, but it does not necessarily authorize a full, separate block of Protective Supervision for each child during the same period.

For example, a parent cannot ordinarily claim that they simultaneously provided one full hour of Protective Supervision to each child and receive payment for two hours during the same one-hour period.

However, personal care, paramedical services, transportation, and other individualized services should be assessed according to each child’s individual needs. One child may require substantially more hands-on care or intervention than the other.

Parents should carefully review how the county divided any shared Protective Supervision hours and whether each child’s individual needs were accurately documented.

Keep Each Child’s Hours Separate

A parent provider should maintain a clear record of which services were performed for each child.

Helpful records include:

Do not claim time for a service that was not authorized for that child. Do not claim the same period twice merely because both children were present.

Providers may only be paid for the authorized services actually provided to the recipient who assigned them. Timesheets should reflect the hours worked for that specific recipient.

Workweek Agreements for Multiple Recipients

The Provider Workweek and Travel Agreement, or SOC 2255, helps providers who work for multiple recipients organize their weekly schedule and remain within the workweek limit.

The agreement identifies the recipients served and the hours the provider expects to work for each one. If the provider travels directly from one recipient’s location to another recipient’s location on the same day, the form may also address compensable travel time.

Travel time is generally limited to seven hours per workweek. This issue may not arise when siblings live together, but it can matter when the children live in different households or the provider works for additional recipients elsewhere.

The schedule may need to be updated when there is a permanent change in the recipients served or the provider’s regular work schedule.

What Parents Should Do

A parent planning to provide IHSS for more than one child should:

  1. Confirm that each child has been separately approved for IHSS.
  2. Tell each child’s social worker that the parent wants to serve as the provider.
  3. Confirm that each child is enrolled in a program that permits a parent provider.
  4. Complete all provider-enrollment requirements.
  5. Obtain each child’s authorized-hours and services notice.
  6. Ask the county for the parent’s combined weekly work limit.
  7. Complete any required workweek agreement.
  8. Determine whether another provider is needed.
  9. Ask about an Extraordinary Circumstances Exemption when the combined hours exceed 66.
  10. Track and submit each child’s hours separately.

Talk to an IHSS Attorney or Advocate

A parent can generally serve as the IHSS provider for more than one child, but the arrangement may become complicated when the children have substantial authorized hours, shared Protective Supervision, paramedical needs, or different IHSS funding programs.

An IHSS attorney or qualified advocate can review the children’s Notices of Action, confirm whether hours were properly prorated, evaluate the provider’s combined workweek limit, and determine whether an overtime exemption may be available.

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].

Overnight Supervision

For many parents of children with disabilities, nighttime is anything but restful. Some children experience seizures while sleeping, wander from their beds, attempt to leave the home, or engage in behaviors that place them at risk of serious injury. As a result, parents may spend the night checking on their child, responding to alarms, or staying awake to ensure their child's safety and provide supervision.

If your child requires supervision overnight because of seizures, wandering, or other disability-related behaviors, you may wonder whether those needs can be considered through the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program.

The answer depends on your child's specific circumstances, the nature of the supervision required, and how those needs are evaluated under IHSS rules.

Why Overnight Supervision May Be Necessary

Some medical conditions and developmental disabilities create safety risks that do not stop when a child goes to bed.

Examples may include:

When these situations occur regularly, parents often must remain alert throughout the night to respond quickly and prevent serious harm.

How IHSS Evaluates Supervision Needs

IHSS may consider supervision needs when a child requires significantly more care than another child of the same age without a disability.

The county generally evaluates whether the child's disability creates a need for ongoing assistance or supervision that exceeds typical parenting responsibilities.

For children who experience nighttime seizures, wandering, or other dangerous behaviors, the assessment may focus on the frequency of the incidents, the level of risk involved, and the amount of supervision necessary to keep the child safe.

Every case is evaluated based on its own facts.

What Evidence Can Support Your Case?

Because overnight supervision often occurs while others are asleep, it can be difficult to demonstrate how demanding it is without proper documentation.

Helpful evidence may include:

Keeping a journal of nighttime incidents—including the time, duration, and type of assistance provided—can help illustrate the level of care your child requires.

Why Nighttime Care Is Often Overlooked

During an IHSS assessment, much of the discussion focuses on daytime activities such as dressing, bathing, eating, and mobility. As a result, parents sometimes forget to explain the amount of care they provide overnight.

If you wake multiple times each night to monitor your child, respond to seizures, redirect wandering, or prevent unsafe behaviors, be sure to discuss these responsibilities during your assessment. Nighttime supervision can be a significant part of your child's overall care needs.

What if the County Does Not Consider Overnight Supervision?

If you believe the county overlooked or underestimated your child's nighttime care needs, you may have options.

Depending on your situation, you may be able to:

Additional evidence can often help provide a clearer understanding of your child's supervision needs.

Speak With an IHSS Attorney

Providing overnight supervision can place an enormous physical and emotional burden on families, especially when a child faces ongoing risks from seizures, wandering, or other dangerous behaviors. If your child's disability requires you to monitor or assist them throughout the night, those care needs should be carefully documented and considered during the IHSS assessment process.

An experienced IHSS attorney can review your case, explain your rights, and help determine whether your child's supervision needs have been fully evaluated.

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].

Moving Counties

If your family is planning to move, you may be wondering what will happen to your child's In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) benefits. Many parents worry that moving to another county will cause their services to stop or require them to start the application process all over again.

While moving to a new county can affect how your case is managed, it does not automatically mean your child will lose IHSS benefits. Understanding the transfer process can help make the transition smoother and reduce interruptions in services.

What Happens When You Move?

IHSS is administered by individual counties, but it is part of a statewide program. When you move from one California county to another, your case generally transfers to the new county.

The receiving county will become responsible for managing your child's IHSS case, including future reassessments and ongoing case administration.

Although benefits often continue during the transfer process, it is important to notify both counties as soon as you know you will be moving.

Will My Child Need a New Assessment?

In many cases, the new county will conduct its own assessment after your move. A county social worker may visit your home to evaluate your child's current needs and verify that the authorized services remain appropriate.

This reassessment does not automatically mean your child's hours will increase or decrease. However, because each county reviews cases independently, the new assessment may result in changes if the county determines that your child's care needs differ from the previous evaluation.

Being prepared for the assessment can help ensure your child's needs are accurately documented.

How Can You Prepare for the Transfer?

Before moving, it is helpful to gather important records related to your child's IHSS case.

These may include:

Having these documents readily available can help the new county better understand your child's ongoing care requirements.

Can My Child's Hours Change?

A move alone does not automatically change the number of authorized IHSS hours. However, if the new county determines that your child's needs have changed—or reaches a different conclusion during its assessment—the authorized hours could increase, decrease, or remain the same.

If you disagree with any changes made after the reassessment, you may have the right to appeal the county's decision.

Carefully reviewing your new Notice of Action is important so you understand any changes and applicable appeal deadlines.

What Should You Do Before Moving?

To help avoid delays or interruptions in services, consider taking these steps:

Staying organized can help make the transfer process as smooth as possible.

Speak With an IHSS Attorney

Moving to another county can feel overwhelming, especially when your child depends on IHSS services. While your case will typically transfer rather than start over, questions or disagreements may arise during the new county's assessment process.

If your child's benefits are reduced, delayed, or denied after moving, an experienced IHSS attorney can review your case, explain your rights, and help you determine whether an appeal or other action may be appropriate.

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].