Can I be a paid IHSS provider for my 68-year-old mom while getting CalFresh?

Yes, you can absolutely be your mother's IHSS provider! I help my father through IHSS while maintaining CalFresh benefits. Here's what you should know: 1. IHSS and CalFresh are separate programs, but IHSS income DOES count toward your CalFresh income limits 2. You'll need to apply for IHSS through your county social services department - your mom will be the recipient and you'll be the provider 3. A social worker will come assess how many hours your mother needs 4. Since you're related to her, you'll need to complete provider enrollment (background check, orientation, paperwork) The good news is that you're already working part-time, so adding IHSS hours makes sense. Just make sure to report the additional income on your next SAR7 for CalFresh. Your benefits might decrease somewhat based on the new income, but you won't necessarily lose them completely.

i do ihss for my aunt. the process took FOREVER to get approved! like 3 months but once it finaly got going it was ok. make sure you keep track of all her medical stuff for the assessment they want to see everything

I've been an IHSS provider for my mother for over 5 years while receiving CalFresh. The key things to understand are: 1. IHSS provider wages are considered earned income for CalFresh purposes 2. Since you have a son in your household, you'll report your mom and her income (if any) on your semi-annual report (SAR7) 3. Your mom will need to apply for Medi-Cal first, as IHSS is a Medi-Cal program 4. The county will assign authorized hours based on your mom's functional limitations For applying, you can start by contacting your county IHSS office. They'll send out a social worker to evaluate your mom. Be very detailed about ALL the help she needs - from medication management to personal care. The social worker needs to understand her full situation. Regarding CalFresh, you'll need to report the change in household composition when your mom moves in, then report your IHSS income when you start receiving it. Your CalFresh benefits will be recalculated based on the larger household size (which could increase benefits) and the additional income (which could decrease them).

BE CAREFUL!!! When I started doing IHSS for my dad my CalFresh dropped from $450 to just $70!!! They count ALL your income and when you add IHSS hours it can push you over the limit. The system is rigged I swear. They act like they want to help but then when you finally get some income they take away food money. Make sure you report ANY expenses you can - rent, utilities, dependent care, medical expenses. EVERYTHINg helps offset the income.

When u apply for IHSS its all about the detail!!! I take care of my MIL and we got her 89 hrs a month. Make sure to describe the WORST days not average days. Like if sometimes mom needs full help with bathing but other days just setup help, tell them about the days she needs FULL help. Be honest but comprehensive!!!

I wanted to share that getting through to the IHSS office can be a nightmare. I spent weeks trying to reach someone when applying for my grandmother. I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to a real person in about 10 minutes instead of waiting on hold forever. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 showing how it works. It made a huge difference in getting our application processed. Might save you some frustration when you're trying to apply or check status!

One important thing I forgot to mention - when you apply for IHSS, be prepared to provide your mom's medical records or at least a letter from her doctor documenting her conditions and limitations. The more medical documentation you have of her arthritis and memory issues, the stronger your case will be for getting appropriate hours approved. Also, in my experience, the IHSS social worker assessment typically happens within 30-45 days of application in 2025, but there can be delays, so start the process ASAP.

have u checked if ur mom qualifies for meals on wheels too? my aunt gets it and it helps a lot with food. its seperate from calfresh.

Question - does your mom live with you already or is she moving in soon? Because if she's moving in, you HAVE to report the household change within 10 days to CalFresh or you could get an overpayment notice later. I learned this the hard way and had to pay back benefits!

Since there seems to be some confusion about the reporting requirements, let me clarify: In California, you must report when someone moves into or out of your home within 10 days if this change would increase your benefits. However, if the change might decrease your benefits (like adding income to the household), you can either report it within 10 days or wait until your next SAR7 or recertification. That said, with IHSS specifically, I always recommend reporting promptly and accurately because: 1. The increase in household size might actually increase your benefits even with the additional income 2. If you're found to have delayed reporting to receive higher benefits, you could face an Intentional Program Violation 3. The system eventually catches up through data matching between programs When you report, use the BenefitsCal online portal if possible - it's usually faster than calling. And make sure to document when and how you reported the change in case there are any questions later.

I'm going through a similar situation with my grandmother right now! One thing I learned that might help - when you're getting ready for the IHSS assessment, keep a detailed log of everything your mom needs help with for at least a week before the social worker comes. Write down specific times, what tasks she struggled with, how long it took you to help her, etc. Also, make sure your mom is present during the assessment if possible. Sometimes they need to see her attempt certain tasks to understand her limitations. The social worker will ask her directly about what she can and can't do. For the CalFresh side, I'd suggest calling your worker ahead of reporting the household change to ask about estimated benefit changes. They can sometimes run scenarios to show you how adding your mom might affect your benefits before you officially report. This helped me prepare financially for the transition. Good luck with everything - caring for aging parents while managing benefits is really challenging but you're doing the right thing for your family!

Just wanted to add something that helped me when I was navigating IHSS and CalFresh together - make sure you understand the difference between gross and net income reporting. For IHSS provider wages, CalFresh uses your gross income (before taxes), but you can deduct work-related expenses like mileage if you're driving your mom to appointments as part of your IHSS duties. Also, if your mom has any ongoing medical expenses (prescriptions, medical equipment, etc.), those count as deductions that can help offset the income increase when CalFresh recalculates your benefits. Keep all receipts! One more tip - some counties have IHSS orientation sessions that explain the program really well. Ask your county office if they offer these. It helped me understand the whole process much better than trying to figure it out on my own. You're doing something really important for your mom, and it's great that you're thinking through all the benefit implications ahead of time. That shows you're being really responsible about this transition.

I'm in a very similar situation with my 71-year-old dad! Just wanted to share a few things that really helped me when I started this process last year: 1. **Timeline planning** - Start your IHSS application NOW, even before your mom moves in. The process takes time and you want benefits to start as soon as possible after she's living with you. 2. **CalFresh reporting strategy** - When I added my dad to my household, my CalFresh actually went UP initially (bigger household size) before going down when the IHSS income started. The net effect wasn't as bad as I feared. 3. **Documentation is key** - Keep a daily care log starting now. Write down every single thing your mom needs help with, even small stuff like opening jars or remembering medications. This becomes crucial evidence during the IHSS assessment. 4. **Medical appointments** - Try to schedule your mom for any needed medical evaluations BEFORE the IHSS assessment. Fresh documentation of her conditions really strengthens your case. The whole process is stressful but totally worth it. My dad went from struggling alone to having the care he needs, and I went from worrying constantly to having a steady income for providing that care. It's actually improved our family's overall financial stability even with the CalFresh reduction. Feel free to reach out if you have specific questions as you go through this - happy to share more details about what worked for us!

I'm also navigating this exact situation right now! My 65-year-old mother is moving in with me next month and I've been researching IHSS and CalFresh interactions. One thing I discovered that might help is that some counties have IHSS/CalFresh coordinators who specifically help families understand how these programs work together. I called my county's adult services department and they connected me with someone who walked through scenarios of how different IHSS hour approvals would affect my CalFresh benefits. It was really helpful to get actual numbers before starting the process. Also, I learned that if your mom qualifies for IHSS, she automatically qualifies for the CalFresh restaurant meals program once she turns 60 (she's already close at 68!). This lets her use CalFresh benefits at participating restaurants, which could be helpful on days when cooking is difficult. The paperwork feels overwhelming but everyone I've talked to says it's worth it for both the care your mom will receive and the income stability it provides. Wishing you the best as you start this journey - you're clearly a caring son looking out for your family!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm actually in the exact same situation - my 72-year-old mother needs to move in with us and I've been stressed about how IHSS would affect our CalFresh benefits. Reading everyone's experiences has really given me hope that this can work out. A few things I wanted to add based on my research: 1. **IHSS wages and taxes** - Don't forget that as an IHSS provider, you'll need to pay taxes on that income. The state takes out some taxes, but you might owe more at tax time. Factor this into your CalFresh planning. 2. **Respite care hours** - Some counties approve respite hours so you can take breaks from caregiving. These are additional hours beyond your mom's regular care needs, and they count toward your total IHSS income. 3. **CalFresh work requirements** - Being an IHSS provider counts as meeting work requirements for CalFresh if you're subject to ABAWD (able-bodied adult without dependents) rules, though that might not apply since you have a teenage son. The tip about starting a care log immediately is so smart. I wish I had known that earlier! Also, the suggestion about county coordinators who understand both programs is gold - I'm calling tomorrow. Thank you everyone for sharing your real experiences. It's making this transition feel much less scary knowing others have successfully navigated it.