IHSS and Personal Care Services for Children
A parent may be the IHSS provider for a severely disabled low income child if:
The parent is prevented from working full time because of the special care needs of the child and because there is no person or agency able to care for the child while the parent works due to those special care needs.
The money a parent receives to be a child's IHSS provider does not affect the child's SSI. To a more limited extent, one parent may be the paid provider during the time the second parent is not in the home. If the child lives with the grandmother or other relative, the rules that limit the services covered by IHSS when the parent is the provider do not apply at all when the grandparent or other relative is the provider.
In some cases IHSS and Personal Care Services may pay someone else (such as a grandmother or aunt or friend) to care for the child when the parent is unavailable -- such as when the parent is sick or at work or caring for other children in the family -- or because there needs to be someone awake to monitor and care for the child while the parent sleeps.
If you are told by the county that your child is not eligible for any benefits, ask the county to give you a decision in writing. That is your right. If your child is currently receiving benefits and you receive a notice saying those benefits are being cut back or stopped, it is important that you appeal that notice within 10 days from the date on the notice or before the cut or reduction goes into effect. If you appeal right away your benefits will continue until there is a final decision. You appeal by filling out the form on the back of the notice and sending it in to the address listed on the back of the notice.
If you have any question at all, please call us at
1-800-776-5746. We want to hear from you if you receive a notice cutting your hours or stopping your hours, if you disagree with the number of hours allowed, if you are told your child is not eligible, if your county worker causes you trouble because you asked for a hearing, or if you would like help in preparing for a hearing. Do not be afraid of asking for a hearing! The fair hearing judges are independent of the county. The judges will insure you are able to tell your story so the judges will be able to reach a decision that is fair. You do not need to have someone represent you at the hearing.PAI 5274.01, 2/3/98