Everything specific to Imperial County — current provider wages, your Public Authority, and how to appeal a Notice of Action.
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$18.83
Hourly Wage
Effective Jan 1, 2026 · CDSS
Imperial Co. PA
Public Authority
6,200+
Recipients Countywide
Overview
Imperial County's IHSS program is administered by the Imperial County Department of Social Services, with the IHSS Public Authority serving as Employer of Record for more than 5,000 caregivers serving over 6,200 recipients throughout the county.
Imperial County providers are represented by United Domestic Workers (UDW) rather than SEIU — a distinction shared with a handful of other Southern California counties, including Riverside, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara.
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Questions about IHSS in Imperial County?
Clara has Imperial County’s contacts and current wage, and can explain how hours are decided.
Imperial County by the Numbers
Official CDSS figuresCDSS program data · July 2026
10,278
Recipients Served
108.6
Avg Monthly Hours Authorized
10.4 below state avg
9,205
Active Providers
962
Receiving Protective Supervision
9% of recipients
Average authorized hours vs. California
108.6 hrs
state avg 119
Provider wage vs. California average
$18.83/hr
CA county avg $18.95
Wage rank #25 of 58Hours rank #49 of 58
Communities served: El Centro, Calexico, Brawley and more
Statewide, 925,481 Californians received IHSS in July 2026, averaging 119 authorized hours a month.
Source: CDSS IHSS Program Data.
Where should you start?
Pick the path that matches where you are right now.
Imperial's wage rose $0.68/hr heading into 2026. Confirm your current rate directly with the Imperial County Public Authority before relying on this figure.
Local Notes & Quirks
Represented by UDW, not SEIU: Like Riverside, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara counties, Imperial County IHSS providers are represented by United Domestic Workers rather than SEIU Local 2015 — worth knowing when looking for union resources.
Above-average recent increase: Imperial's wage rose $0.68/hr heading into 2026, notably larger than the roughly $0.40/hr standard annual increase most counties received.
Large program relative to county size: Imperial County serves over 6,200 IHSS recipients with more than 5,000 caregivers — a substantial program for one of California's smaller-population counties.
Appealing a Notice of Action in Imperial County
If Imperial 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 1-800-952-5253 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 Imperial County IHSS appeal, Disability Rights California can be reached at 1-800-776-5746.
Heading into your Imperial County assessment?
The Clarity Report gives you a personalized estimate of the hours you may qualify for, built on California's official Hourly Task Guidelines — before you sit down with your county social worker.