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.
Provider Wage & Public Authority
Kern County IHSS Contacts
- Current hourly wage
- $17.70/hr (+$0.60 from the 2025 rate)
- Public Authority
- Kern AASD (United Domestic Workers of America (UDWA))
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.