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.