The In-Home Supportive Services Program

What is the In-Home Supportive Services Program? The IHSS Program will help pay for services provided to you so that you can remain safely in your own home. To be eligible, you must be over 65 years of age, or disabled, or blind. Disabled children are also eligible for IHSS. The program is considered an alternative to out-of-home care, such as nursing homes or board and care facilities.

What Types of Services are Provided Through IHSS? The types of services which can be authorized through IHSS are housecleaning, meal preparation, laundry, grocery shopping, personal care services (such as bowel and bladder care, bathing, grooming and paramedical services), accompaniment to medical appointments, and protective supervision for the mentally impaired.

Who May Be Eligible for IHSS?

• Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or State Supplementary Payment Recipients (SSP) – A person may still be eligible even if they do not receive SSI/SSP the person: 1) meets SSI/SSP criteria but does not receive SSI/SSP; 2) meets all SSI/SSP criteria except the income requirement; 3) meets all SSI/SSP disability criteria and is a Medi-Cal recipient.

• Other Requirements:
• Must be a California resident that is a U.S. Citizen or Qualified Alien.
• Must live at a home or abode of your own choosing.
• Personal property may not exceed $2,000 for an individual, or $3,000 for a couple. This includes cash, bank accounts, stocks, loans, cars (except the one needed for medical appointments or work), and real property (except the home that you own and live in).

IHSS and Medi-Cal Benefits: IHSS recipients are automatically eligible for Medi-Cal for their medical/health care. For most people who qualify for IHSS, the in-home care benefits are paid for under the Personal Care Services Program (PCSP) which is a Medi-Cal benefit. Under certain circumstances, the State of California will have the right to have your estate pay for the cost of some Medi-Cal benefits received after age 55, upon your admission to a skilled Nursing facility.

Joseph E. Deering

DeeringLawOffice@JoeDeering.com

www.joedeering.com

632 Arizona Avenue
Santa Monica, California 90401
Telephone (310) 393-0701