Share of Cost (SOC)
What it means in California's IHSS program, in plain English.
A monthly amount some Medi-Cal recipients must pay toward their own care before Medi-Cal — and by extension IHSS — begins covering costs, similar to a deductible. Whether you have a Share of Cost, and how much it is, depends on your income and the Medi-Cal program category you qualify under.
Not everyone on IHSS has a Share of Cost; many qualify for $0 SOC Medi-Cal. Being on Social Security does not automatically mean $0 SOC — regular Social Security and SSDI income counts differently than SSI. See our full Share of Cost article for how it's paid and how it affects your provider's pay.
Read the full guide
Official program information: CDSS — In-Home Supportive Services. Definitions here are IHSSHours.com's plain-English explanations, not the regulatory text.
