IHSS Assessment Checklist
The documentation you bring to your IHSS in-home assessment can make a significant difference in the hours authorized. Social workers rely on what they observe and what they're told — supporting your claims with written documentation from medical professionals and specific incident examples strengthens your case considerably.
- Your IHSSHours.com Clarity Report — a pre-filled preliminary assessment mirroring the county's own evaluation criteria, with CDSS-style narrative language for each task
- Physician letters — a letter from the primary care physician documenting diagnoses and how they affect daily functioning
- Specialist evaluations — neurologist, psychiatrist, orthopedist, or other specialist reports relevant to the recipient's conditions
- Medication list — current prescriptions, dosages, and any medications requiring administration assistance
- Recent hospital or ER records — especially any admissions related to falls, unsupervised incidents, or condition deterioration
- Neuropsychological or cognitive evaluation results
- Behavioral health records
- Documentation of wandering, elopement, or unsafe incidents (dates, descriptions)
- A physician letter specifically recommending 24-hour supervision
- Police or emergency services records if applicable
Be specific and honest. Describe what happens when the recipient attempts each task without help — not what they could theoretically do on their best day, but what typically happens. Social workers are trained to ask about the "worst case" scenario and the most common scenario.
Do not minimize. Many recipients and family members instinctively downplay difficulties out of pride or habit. This is one of the most common reasons hours get under-authorized.
Educational information, not legal advice. Only your county can authorize IHSS services, and only after an assessment. IHSSHours.com is an independent resource and is not affiliated with CDSS or any county IHSS office. · More IHSS guides