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Updated 2026-05-22

Sacramento County · IHSS

IHSS in Sacramento County: how to apply, what it pays, who qualifies.

Sacramento County administers In-Home Supportive Services through the Department of Human Assistance (DHA), serving roughly 35,000 recipients across Sacramento, Elk Grove, Folsom, and the rest of the county. The 2026 Sacramento IHSS provider hourly wage is approximately $18.85 per hour. Apply through BenefitsCal or by calling DHA at (916) 874-9471. A county social worker conducts an in-home assessment, family members can be paid as the provider, and the Sacramento County In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority operates the local provider registry. Verify hourly rate against the CDSS Hourly Wage and Benefits Schedule.

The quick answer

Who runs it
Sacramento County Department of Human Assistance (DHA), the social services arm of the county, with offices serving central Sacramento, North Highlands, South Sacramento, and Elk Grove.
How to start
Call Sacramento DHA at (916) 874-9471 or apply for Medi-Cal through BenefitsCal.com first if your parent is not already enrolled. IHSS requires an active Medi-Cal case.
What it pays in 2026
Approximately $18.85 per hour for the provider. Verify against the CDSS Hourly Wage and Benefits Schedule. Up to 195 hours per month, or up to 283 with Protective Supervision.
How long it takes
Typical timeline in Sacramento is 40 to 65 days from intake call to first authorized hours.

Sacramento County · contacts

Sacramento DHA IHSS intake
(916) 874-9471
Sacramento IHSS Public Authority
(916) 874-2888
Sacramento Adult Protective Services
(916) 874-9377
Apply for Medi-Cal
BenefitsCal.com

How Sacramento County runs IHSS

Sacramento County administers In-Home Supportive Services through the Department of Human Assistance (DHA), the county’s social services arm. DHA runs Medi-Cal enrollment, CalFresh, CalWORKs, and General Assistance alongside IHSS. The Sacramento IHSS caseload of about 35,000 recipients is one of the larger county operations in California.

DHA partners with the Sacramento County In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority, which runs the provider registry, handles provider orientation and enrollment, and bargains the hourly wage with SEIU Local 2015. Sacramento’s provider wage sits between the Bay Area top tier and the lower Central Valley counties.

The mechanics of IHSS are set by state law and apply the same way in Sacramento as in every other California county. 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 Sacramento, step by step

  1. Confirm or apply for Medi-Cal. IHSS requires an active Medi-Cal case. Apply through BenefitsCal.com if needed. Applications can run in parallel.
  2. Call Sacramento DHA IHSS intake. The number is (916) 874-9471. You will go through a phone screening that confirms basic eligibility and schedules the in-home assessment.
  3. Prepare the SOC 873.DHA sends the health-care certification 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.
  4. Do the in-home assessment. A DHA social worker visits your parent at home, walks through the SOC 293, observes the environment, and asks about a typical day. Have a family member present if possible.
  5. If dementia is involved, file the SOC 821. Protective Supervision is the pathway for a parent who cannot be left alone safely. Strong supporting documentation (neuropsychological evaluation, daily safety log, neurologist letter) matters.
  6. Receive the Notice of Action. DHA issues a written Notice of Action with authorized monthly hours. If denied, your family has 90 days to file a state hearing appeal.
  7. Enroll the provider. The family member or friend who will be paid attends Sacramento Public Authority orientation, passes a background check, and registers for timesheet submission through the Electronic Services Portal.

Finding a provider through the Sacramento Public Authority

Most Sacramento families use a relative as the IHSS provider. If no family member can take the role, the Sacramento County In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority operates the county provider registry. They match you 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.

What IHSS pays in Sacramento in 2026

The Sacramento provider hourly wage in 2026 is approximately $18.85 per hour. The exact rate is published on the CDSS county wage schedule and updated when SEIU Local 2015 and the Sacramento 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 Sacramento County contribution above the state base.

Hours work the same as everywhere else in California. Most recipients are capped at 195 hours per month. Members assessed as Severely Impaired 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.

Timing in Sacramento

DHA assessment queues run 40 to 65 days in Sacramento, faster than LA but slower than the smallest counties. If your parent is being discharged from UC Davis Medical Center, Sutter, or Kaiser and the home is unsafe without help, tell the intake worker the situation is an imminent unsafe placement and ask about expedited assessment. DHA has authority to prioritize.

For day-to-day program rules, see our general guide on IHSS in California. This page focuses on what is specific to Sacramento County.

Related guides and next steps

This guide explains program rules and county-specific contacts, not legal advice. California Care Compass does not place referrals on county or planning pages.

Common questions

7 entries

Who qualifies for IHSS in Sacramento County?

Anyone who lives in Sacramento County, has active Medi-Cal (or an approved application in process), and has a physician-certified functional need that means they cannot safely live at home without help. Eligibility rules are set at the state level and are identical across all 58 counties. What differs in Sacramento is the size of the caseload (large but manageable, around 35,000) and the provider wage, which sits between the Bay Area and the lower Central Valley counties.

How do I apply for IHSS through Sacramento DHA?

Start by calling Sacramento DHA at (916) 874-9471, or by going to BenefitsCal.com to confirm or apply for Medi-Cal first. After phone intake, DHA will schedule an in-home assessment with a county social worker. Your parent’s physician must complete the SOC 873 health-care certification, which DHA will send by mail or you can download from the CDSS website.

Can a family member be paid as the IHSS provider in Sacramento?

Yes. Adult children are the most common IHSS provider relationship, and siblings, friends, grandchildren, and in many cases spouses or parents of an adult disabled child can also enroll. The provider completes orientation through the Sacramento Public Authority, passes a Department of Justice background check, and submits timesheets through the Electronic Services Portal. Pay comes from the state every two weeks.

What is Protective Supervision and how does it work in Sacramento?

Protective Supervision is the IHSS pathway for a parent with dementia or another cognitive impairment severe enough that they cannot be left alone safely. It can lift the monthly hour cap from 195 to 283. The application requires the SOC 821 form completed by the treating physician documenting the need for 24-hour observation. Families who appeal a denial with a neuropsychological evaluation, a daily safety log, and a strong letter from the treating neurologist often win on appeal.

What does IHSS pay per hour in Sacramento County in 2026?

The Sacramento provider wage in 2026 is approximately $18.85 per hour. The exact figure depends on the current bargaining cycle between Sacramento County, the Sacramento IHSS Public Authority, and SEIU Local 2015. Verify the current published rate on the CDSS Hourly Wage Rates by County schedule or at the Sacramento Public Authority website before relying on a specific number. The wage can change mid-year.

How long does an IHSS application take in Sacramento?

Plan for 40 to 65 days from your first intake call to the date authorized hours start. Once approved, the first paycheck is typically backdated to the application or assessment date, so the first deposit often includes retroactive pay covering several weeks. If a medical situation makes the wait unsafe, ask the intake worker about expedited assessment for hospital discharge.

Are there DHA offices near me in Sacramento County?

Sacramento DHA operates district offices serving central Sacramento, North Highlands, South Sacramento, and Elk Grove. You can find the office that serves your parent’s ZIP code on the DHA website. For IHSS specifically, most communication happens by phone, mail, and the in-home visit rather than in person.

Sources

  1. 01California Department of Social Services · In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program · accessed 2026-05-22
  2. 02Sacramento County Department of Human Assistance · In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) · accessed 2026-05-22
  3. 03Sacramento County IHSS Public Authority · Provider registry and resources · accessed 2026-05-22
  4. 04California Department of Social Services · IHSS Provider Hourly Wage Rates by County · accessed 2026-05-22
  5. 05Sacramento County Adult Protective Services · Reporting elder and dependent adult abuse · accessed 2026-05-22
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