⚖ IHSS Appeal Package
Your hours were reduced.
Fight back.
A complete, personalized IHSS appeal package built around your actual Notice of Action — with exact disputed hours, CDSS-aligned narratives, and a pre-filled State Hearing Request Letter.
One-time · Instant PDF · All 58 California counties · Not affiliated with any government agency
Who This Is For
Did any of these happen to you?
Your hours were reduced at reassessment
The county lowered your authorized hours at your annual reassessment without adequately accounting for your functional limitations or condition changes.
A service was denied entirely
The county denied Protective Supervision, bowel/bladder care, or another service you clearly need — with little explanation on the Notice of Action.
Your initial assessment came in too low
You received your first IHSS authorization and the hours authorized are significantly lower than what the CDSS Hourly Task Guidelines support for your functional rank.
What's Included
Everything you need to build your case
Your Appeal Package is built around your specific Notice of Action — not a generic template.
01
Personalized Dispute Summary
Side-by-side comparison of what the county authorized on your NOA vs. what the CDSS Hourly Task Guidelines support for your actual functional rank — for every disputed task.
02
CDSS-Aligned Appeal Narratives
Written statements for each disputed task using CDSS language — ready to read into the record at your State Hearing. Includes Protective Supervision denial narratives.
03
Pre-Filled State Hearing Request Letter
A ready-to-mail letter requesting your State Hearing, referencing your specific NOA, disputed services, and aid-paid-pending request — all filled in with your information.
04
Prioritized Evidence Checklist
Critical, High, and Recommended documents to gather before your hearing — with specific instructions for each item and guidance on how to obtain them.
05
Appeal Timeline with Exact Deadlines
Your aid-paid-pending window — 10 days from the notice, or the date your services are set to change, whichever is later — and your 90-day filing deadline, calculated from your NOA date, so you never miss a critical window.
06
County IHSS Office Contact + Free Legal Help
Your specific county IHSS office phone number, plus Disability Rights California and other free legal resources that can represent you at your hearing at no cost.
How It Works
Simple. Fast. Personalized.
1
Complete the Appeal Questionnaire
Enter your NOA date, the hours the county authorized for each service, and the functional rank that reflects the recipient's actual abilities. Takes about 10 minutes.
2
Document Your Incidents
Add specific incidents — wandering events, falls, ER visits, unsafe behaviors — with dates and descriptions. These become documented evidence in your appeal narratives.
3
Receive Your PDF Package
Your complete Appeal Package is generated instantly and emailed to you. Print it, bring it to your hearing, and use the narratives and letter to present your case.
4
File Your State Hearing Request
Use the pre-filled letter to request your State Hearing within the 90-day window. Consider contacting Disability Rights California for free legal representation.
Pricing
One package. Everything included.
Complete Appeal Package
The IHSS Appeal Package
$35
One-time · Instant PDF · All 58 California counties
- Personalized dispute summary — NOA hours vs HTG hours per task
- CDSS-aligned appeal narratives for each disputed service
- Pre-filled State Hearing Request Letter
- Prioritized evidence & documentation checklist
- Appeal timeline with your exact NOA deadlines
- Your county IHSS office phone number
- Free legal resources directory
- Protective Supervision denial narratives — included
All sales final · For educational purposes only · Not legal advice
Common Questions
Appeal FAQs
How long do I have to appeal my IHSS Notice of Action?
You have 90 days from the date on your Notice of Action to request a State Hearing. If you request the hearing within 10 days, you may be entitled to continue receiving your current service level while the appeal is pending — known as "aid paid pending." Act quickly.
Can I appeal if this is my first IHSS assessment?
Yes. If your initial assessment authorized fewer hours than the CDSS Hourly Task Guidelines support for your functional rank, you have the right to appeal. Select "Initial Assessment — Hours Lower Than Expected" in the questionnaire and the package will be tailored accordingly.
Is this legal advice?
No. The Appeal Package is an educational tool that helps you organize and document your appeal — it is not legal advice and IHSSHours.com is not a law firm. For complex appeals, especially those involving Protective Supervision, we strongly recommend contacting Disability Rights California at 1-800-776-5746 for free legal representation.
What's the difference between this and the IHSS Hours Estimate?
The IHSS Hours Estimate ($25) is for people preparing for an upcoming IHSS assessment — it gives you a preliminary hour estimate to know what to expect. The Appeal Package ($35) is for people who have already received a Notice of Action and want to dispute the county's decision.
Do I need a lawyer to appeal IHSS?
You are not required to have a lawyer, and many people successfully appeal on their own. However, having legal representation significantly improves outcomes — especially for Protective Supervision appeals. Disability Rights California (1-800-776-5746) provides free legal help for IHSS appeals and can attend your hearing at no cost to you.
What if my 90-day deadline has already passed?
Contact Disability Rights California at 1-800-776-5746. In some circumstances late appeals may be accepted, and there may be other remedies available. Don't assume it's too late without speaking to an advocate first.
Don't let a wrong decision stand.
Your hours are determined by CDSS guidelines — not by the county's judgment alone. If the math doesn't add up, you have every right to challenge it.
Start My Appeal Package — $35One-time · Instant PDF · All sales final · Educational purposes only
Also asked
What is aid paid pending in an IHSS appeal?
Aid paid pending means your IHSS services continue at the previously authorized level while your appeal is being decided. You must request your State Hearing within 10 days of your Notice of Action date to qualify.
Sources
- WIC 10951, MPP 22-009.1 — 90 days from the Notice of Action to request a State Hearing; an Administrative Law Judge may accept a filing up to 180 days for good cause
- MPP 22-072 — aid paid pending: services continue if the hearing is requested within 10 days of the notice, or before the effective date of the action, whichever is later
- MPP 22-060 — a decision is due within 90 days of the filing date; WIC 10960(a) — 30 days to request a rehearing
- WIC 12301.2, MPP 30-758 — time-per-task and frequency, the basis of the dispute summary
- CDSS Hourly Task Guidelines — weekly ranges by Functional Index rank, converted at 4.33 (MPP 30-763.2). The package cites the published range and requests its floor
- MPP 30-757.17 and 30-757.172 — Protective Supervision and the five situations in which it cannot be authorized
- CDSS State Hearings Division — 1-800-743-8525, TDD 1-800-952-8349
Educational information, not legal advice. Disability Rights California can represent you at a hearing at no cost: 1-800-776-5746. More on our sources and method: How we calculate estimates.
