Everything specific to Merced County — current provider wages, your Public Authority, and how to appeal a Notice of Action.
📩 Get occasional IHSS policy updates & new county guides:
$17.50
Hourly Wage
Effective Jan 1, 2026 · CDSS
Merced Co. PA
Public Authority
Central Valley
Region
Overview
Merced County's IHSS program is administered by the county's Human Services Agency, with the Merced County IHSS Public Authority — established as a separate legal entity by county ordinance — serving as Employer of Record and operating the provider registry.
The Public Authority Registry matches recipients with screened providers based on the tasks needed, authorized hours, and the recipient's preferences, with a provider list typically mailed within 5-7 business days of a request.
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Questions about IHSS in Merced County?
Clara has Merced County’s contacts and current wage, and can explain how hours are decided.
Merced County by the Numbers
Official CDSS figuresCDSS program data · July 2026
6,312
Recipients Served
115.6
Avg Monthly Hours Authorized
3.4 below state avg
5,765
Active Providers
632
Receiving Protective Supervision
10% of recipients
Average authorized hours vs. California
115.6 hrs
state avg 119
Provider wage vs. California average
$17.50/hr
CA county avg $18.95
Wage rank #54 of 58Hours rank #33 of 58
Communities served: Merced, Los Banos, Atwater 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.
Wages are reviewed periodically. Confirm your current rate directly with the Merced County Public Authority before relying on this figure.
Local Notes & Quirks
Established by county ordinance: Merced's Public Authority was specifically created as a separate and distinct legal entity by the Board of Supervisors, with its own advisory committee where at least half the members must be current or past IHSS recipients.
Registry timeline is set: Once a recipient's information is entered into the registry, a list of matching providers is typically mailed within 5-7 business days — useful to know if you're waiting to hear back.
Central Valley wage pattern: At $17.50/hr, Merced tracks closely with neighboring Central Valley counties, notably below Bay Area rates.
Appealing a Notice of Action in Merced County
If Merced 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 Merced County IHSS appeal, Disability Rights California can be reached at 1-800-776-5746.
Heading into your Merced 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.