IHSS Reassessment

IHSS is not a one-time authorization. Recipients are reassessed periodically — typically once a year — and hours can increase or decrease based on the new evaluation. Knowing how to prepare for a reassessment is just as important as preparing for the initial application.

Most IHSS recipients are reassessed annually. However, reassessments can also be triggered by a change in condition, a move to a new county, a change in living situation, a request from the recipient or provider, or a county-initiated review.

Reassessments are not automatically favorable. If your condition has improved — or if the social worker perceives it to have improved — hours may be reduced. This is why preparation and documentation are just as important at reassessment as at the initial evaluation.

If your condition has worsened, a reassessment is an opportunity to get more hours. Many recipients accept whatever they receive at their initial assessment without realizing conditions often qualify for more hours over time.

• Update your medical documentation to reflect any changes in condition since the last assessment
• Document any new incidents — falls, hospitalizations, behavioral events, or loss of function
• Ask your physician to write a letter specifically addressing any condition changes
• Complete a new IHSSHours.com Clarity Report to establish a current baseline before the visit
• Review your current authorized hours and identify any tasks you believe are under-authorized

You don't have to wait for the annual cycle. If your condition has significantly worsened, you can request an early reassessment by contacting your county IHSS office. Bring documentation of the change to support your request.

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