Everything specific to Kern County — current provider wages, your Public Authority, and how to appeal a Notice of Action.
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$17.90
Hourly Wage
Effective Jul 1, 2026 · CDSS
UDWA
Provider Union
Overview
Kern County's IHSS program is administered through the Kern County Aging and Adult Services Department (AASD), which handles provider registry, training, and wage negotiation with United Domestic Workers of America (UDWA).
Kern's Public Authority functions are handled directly within the county's Aging and Adult Services Department, rather than as a separate standalone agency — the AASD Director also serves as the Public Authority's executive director.
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Questions about IHSS in Kern County?
Clara has Kern County’s contacts and current wage, and can explain how hours are decided.
Kern County by the Numbers
Official CDSS figuresCDSS program data · July 2026
18,430
Recipients Served
118.4
Avg Monthly Hours Authorized
0.6 below state avg
16,815
Active Providers
2,253
Receiving Protective Supervision
12% of recipients
Average authorized hours vs. California
118.4 hrs
state avg 119
Provider wage vs. California average
$17.90/hr
CA county avg $18.95
Wage rank #42 of 58Hours rank #29 of 58
Communities served: Bakersfield, Delano, Ridgecrest, Tehachapi 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.
Wage figures are compiled from public county and advocacy sources and cross-checked where possible, but county rates change and secondary sources sometimes disagree. Confirm your current rate directly with Kern AASD before relying on this figure.
Local Notes & Quirks
Combined AASD structure: Unlike counties with a standalone Public Authority nonprofit, Kern folds IHSS Public Authority functions directly into its Aging and Adult Services Department — one office handles registry, referral, and training.
Large rural service area: Kern is one of California's largest counties by land area, so recipients and providers in outlying communities (Ridgecrest, Mojave, Tehachapi) may have longer travel times to in-person services in Bakersfield.
UDWA representation: Kern's IHSS providers are represented by United Domestic Workers of America (UDWA) rather than SEIU, which is the union representing most other California counties on this list.
Appealing a Notice of Action in Kern County
If Kern 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 a Kern County IHSS appeal, Disability Rights California can be reached at 1-800-776-5746.
Heading into your Kern 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 Kern County social worker.