IHSS in Alameda County: Phone Number, Pay Rate & How to Apply
Everything specific to Alameda County — current provider wages, your Public Authority, and how to appeal a Notice of Action.
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Overview
Alameda County's IHSS program is administered by the Social Services Agency, with provider registry, health benefits, and training handled by the Alameda County Public Authority for IHSS — operating since 1993.
Alameda's $22.10/hr wage puts it among the higher county rates in the state — consistent with the broader Bay Area wage pattern affecting San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara as well.
Clara has Alameda County’s contacts and current wage, and can explain how hours are decided.
How to apply for IHSS in Alameda County
To apply for IHSS in Alameda County, call the county IHSS office. A social worker will take your application and arrange an in-home assessment.
Alameda County IHSS phone number
There is no statewide online IHSS application — applying means phoning your county. All Alameda County contacts →
The application form (SOC 295)
The state's written application is form SOC 295, Application for In-Home Supportive Services. You can fill it in ahead of time.
Open the SOC 295 form (PDF)Opens on the CDSS website. The form goes to Alameda County, not to the state, so call the number above to ask where to mail, fax or bring it.
Once you apply, the county schedules an in-home assessment. A social worker scores how much help you need with each task, and those scores decide your monthly hours — see how the Functional Index ranks work. If your hours are later denied or reduced, you have appeal rights with deadlines: how to appeal a Notice of Action. Becoming a paid provider is a separate process — start with the Provider Hub.
Alameda County by the Numbers
Statewide, 925,481 Californians received IHSS in July 2026, averaging 119 authorized hours a month. Source: CDSS IHSS Program Data.
How Alameda County has changed
11 months of official CDSS program data, Jan '24 to Jul '26.
Where should you start?
Pick the path that matches where you are right now.
Provider pay in 2027 in Alameda County
Agreement in place; no rate published
Alameda County's agreement with providers sets the wage at the state minimum wage plus a county supplement. The agreement lists the supplement as $5.20 an hour from July 1, 2026 and $5.62 an hour from July 1, 2027, and it runs through September 30, 2027. The county has not published a 2027 dollar rate.
California's minimum wage rises from $16.90 to $17.40 an hour on January 1, 2027. County IHSS wages are built on the state minimum wage, so no county's rate can be lower than that.
- To confirm your rate, call the Alameda County main IHSS line
- (510) 577-1800
Sources: Alameda County Board of Supervisors, agenda item of September 9, 2025 (agreement with providers); California Department of Industrial Relations, News Release 2026-66. Checked October 7, 2026. Counties publish new rates through the autumn, so confirm before you plan around this. IHSSHours.com is independent and is not part of the county.
Provider orientation in Alameda County
In person
In person: one orientation session of about 1.5 hours at the IHSS offices in Oakland, where you also show your photo ID and Social Security card.
How to start: The person you will work for asks IHSS for an enrollment packet by calling (510) 577-1900 or visiting the IHSS offices. Fill it out and return it to IHSS at 6955 Foothill Blvd, Oakland, then attend one orientation there. The county says orientation classes are held daily, with non-English classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
- Provider enrollment information
- (510) 577-1877
- Alameda County main IHSS line
- (510) 577-1800
Source: Alameda County Social Services Agency, checked October 5, 2026. Counties change how they run orientation, so confirm before you go. IHSSHours.com is independent and is not part of the county.
Provider Wage & Public Authority
- Current hourly wage
- $22.10/hr
- Public Authority
- ACPA (SEIU Local 2015)
- IHSS Application Line
- (510) 577-1800
- Public Authority main line
- (510) 577-3551
- Training questions
- (510) 577-3554
Wages change when union contracts are renegotiated or the state minimum wage rises. Confirm your current rate directly with ACPA before relying on this figure.
Check your weekly max as a Alameda County provider → Pre-filled with the county average of 125 authorized hours a month (CDSS) — swap in your recipient's number.
Local Notes & Quirks
- One of the longest-running Public Authorities in CA: Alameda's Public Authority for IHSS has operated since 1993, among the earliest in the state.
- Low-cost provider health plan: Eligible IHSS providers in Alameda County can access a low-cost medical, dental, and vision plan administered directly through the Public Authority.
- Backup Provider System (BUPS): Recipients who urgently need a temporary care provider — when their regular provider is unavailable — can request a backup provider through the Public Authority rather than going without care.
Alameda County IHSS — Common Questions
How much do IHSS providers get paid in Alameda County?
What will IHSS providers be paid in Alameda County in 2027?
How many IHSS hours do people get in Alameda County?
How do I apply for IHSS in Alameda County?
How many people receive IHSS in Alameda County?
How many people receive Protective Supervision in Alameda County?
Can I be paid to care for a family member in Alameda County?
Figures are from CDSS program data (July 2026) and the CDSS county wage sheet (IP Effective 10-1-2026). County averages describe a caseload, not an entitlement — how we calculate estimates.
Appealing a Notice of Action in Alameda County
If Alameda County reduces, denies, or terminates your IHSS hours, the appeal process is governed by state regulation — the same 90-day deadline applies regardless of county:
- You have 90 days from the date on your Notice of Action to request a State Hearing
- Call the State Hearings Division at 1-800-743-8525 to request a hearing
- Or mail a written request to: California Department of Social Services, State Hearings Division, P.O. Box 944243, Sacramento, CA 94244
- Requesting your hearing before the Notice of Action's effective date preserves Aid Paid Pending — meaning you keep your current hours while the appeal is decided
For free legal help with an Alameda County IHSS appeal, Disability Rights California can be reached at 1-800-776-5746.
County data last updated 2026-10-07 · CDSS program data July 2026, wages IP Effective 10-1-2026.
