How LA County runs IHSS
Los Angeles County administers In-Home Supportive Services through the Department of Public Social Services (DPSS), the same agency that runs Medi-Cal enrollment, CalFresh, and CalWORKs in the county. LA’s IHSS operation is the largest in California by a wide margin, serving roughly 265,000 active recipients. For context, that is more than the next three counties combined.
DPSS partners with the Personal Assistance Services Council of LA County (PASC-LA), the county’s IHSS Public Authority. PASC-LA runs the provider registry families use when they do not have a relative or friend willing to be the paid provider, handles provider orientation and enrollment, and bargains the hourly wage with SEIU Local 2015.
The mechanics of IHSS are set by state law and apply the same way in LA as in every other California county. What LA does differently is volume. Longer assessment waits, more district offices, and a busier provider registry are all consequences of caseload size. The rules of the program, the SOC 293 assessment, the SOC 873 health-care certification, the SOC 821 for Protective Supervision, and the 195 and 283 monthly hour caps, are identical to the rest of the state.
How to apply in LA, step by step
- Confirm or apply for Medi-Cal. IHSS requires an active Medi-Cal case. If your parent already has Medi-Cal, skip to step 2. If not, apply through BenefitsCal.com or by calling LA DPSS. Applications can run in parallel.
- Call LA DPSS IHSS intake. The main number is (888) 944-4477. You will go through a phone screening that confirms basic eligibility and schedules the in-home assessment.
- Prepare the SOC 873.The county sends the health-care certification form to your parent’s physician. You can also download it from the CDSS website and bring it to the next medical visit. The physician documents the functional limitations that mean your parent cannot remain safely at home alone.
- Do the in-home assessment. A DPSS social worker visits your parent at home, walks through every daily-living task on the SOC 293, observes the household environment, and asks about a typical day. Have a family member present if possible. Bring documentation of any cognitive impairment.
- If dementia is involved, file the SOC 821. Protective Supervision is the IHSS pathway for a parent who cannot be left alone safely. The physician completes the SOC 821. LA County denies Protective Supervision at first assessment frequently, so prepare strong documentation: a neuropsychological evaluation, a daily safety log, and a letter from the treating neurologist.
- Receive the Notice of Action. DPSS issues a written Notice of Action with authorized monthly hours. If denied, your family has 90 days to file a state hearing appeal. Disability Rights California publishes a detailed appeal guide.
- Enroll the provider. The family member or friend who will be paid attends a PASC-LA provider orientation, passes a background check, and registers for timesheet submission through the Electronic Services Portal. Pay starts on the next two-week cycle.
Finding a provider through PASC-LA
Most LA families use a relative as the IHSS provider. If no family member can take the role, or only for some of the authorized hours, PASC-LA operates the county provider registry. You can call the registry at (877) 565-4477 to be matched with background-checked providers in your area. The registry is free for IHSS recipients.
The hourly wage is identical whether the provider is a family member or a registry-matched stranger. Many families combine: a daughter covers morning routines and overnight Protective Supervision hours, and a registry provider covers afternoons three days a week.
What IHSS pays in LA County in 2026
The LA provider hourly wage in 2026 is approximately $18.50 to $19.50 per hour. The exact rate is published on the CDSS county wage schedule and updated when SEIU Local 2015 and the LA Public Authority complete a bargaining cycle. Verify the current number before relying on it. The rate includes the state share, the federal Medi-Cal share, and the LA County contribution above the state base.
Hours work the same as everywhere else in California. Most recipients are capped at 195 hours per month (the Non-Severely Impaired ceiling). Members assessed as Severely Impaired, almost always through Protective Supervision, can receive up to 283 hours per month. The actual authorized hours depend on each task ranking on the SOC 293, not on the cap alone.
Why the LA wait is longer, and what to do about it
DPSS assessment queues in LA run 45 to 75 days, often longer in the San Fernando Valley and Antelope Valley regions where caseloads grew fastest. Three things help. First, get the Medi-Cal application moving in parallel with the IHSS application rather than sequentially. Second, have the SOC 873 ready at the in-home visit instead of waiting for DPSS to mail it. Third, if your parent is being discharged from a hospital or rehab and the home is unsafe without help, tell the intake worker that the situation is an imminent unsafe placement and ask about expedited assessment. DPSS has authority to prioritize.
For day-to-day program rules (who qualifies, what tasks count, how Protective Supervision works, how the hourly wage is set), see our general guide on IHSS in California. This page focuses on what is specific to LA County: who to call, how long to wait, and which county agency does what.
Related guides and next steps
- IHSS in California: the Medi-Cal program that pays for help at home
- IHSS eligibility for California seniors, including Protective Supervision
- Medi-Cal eligibility for seniors in California
- How to apply for Medi-Cal in California, step by step
- Your parent is on Medi-Cal: what care that pays for
- Begin the Care Checker
This guide explains program rules and county-specific contacts, not legal advice. California Care Compass does not place referrals on county or planning pages.