Everything specific to San Diego County — current provider wages, your Public Authority, and how to appeal a Notice of Action.
📩 Get occasional IHSS policy updates & new county guides:
$20.40
Hourly Wage
Effective Mar 1, 2026 · CDSS
SDIHSSPA
Public Authority
3-Year
Contract Through 2028
Overview
San Diego County's IHSS program is administered by the County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA), with provider registry, enrollment, and payroll support handled by the San Diego IHSS Public Authority (SDIHSSPA), headquartered in National City.
San Diego County negotiated a new three-year union contract effective January 1, 2026, which is part of why the county's hourly wage saw a notable increase that year. Your hours and eligibility, however, are determined by an HHSA social worker during your in-home assessment — not by SDIHSSPA, whose role is focused on the provider side of the program.
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Questions about IHSS in San Diego County?
Clara has San Diego County’s contacts and current wage, and can explain how hours are decided.
San Diego County by the Numbers
Official CDSS figuresCDSS program data · July 2026
51,084
Recipients Served
119.3
Avg Monthly Hours Authorized
at state average
47,928
Active Providers
7,261
Receiving Protective Supervision
14% of recipients
Average authorized hours vs. California
119.3 hrs
state avg 119
Provider wage vs. California average
$20.40/hr
CA county avg $18.95
Wage rank #11 of 58Hours rank #25 of 58
Communities served: San Diego, Chula Vista, Oceanside, Escondido, Carlsbad, El Cajon, Vista, San Marcos, National City, La Mesa 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.
401 Mile of Cars Way, Ste. 200 National City, CA 91950
Wages are renegotiated roughly twice a year. Confirm your current rate directly with SDIHSSPA before relying on this figure.
Local Notes & Quirks
Multi-year wage contracts: San Diego's 2026 union agreement locks in wages for three years rather than the more typical annual or twice-yearly renegotiation — useful to know if you're budgeting for a long-term care arrangement.
Email application option: San Diego County accepts IHSS applications by email in addition to phone, mail, and in-person — a convenience not every county offers.
SDIHSSPA handles enrollment & registry, not assessments: Your hours and eligibility are determined by an HHSA social worker; SDIHSSPA's role is provider enrollment, the provider registry, and payroll support — direct hours questions go to HHSA, not SDIHSSPA.
Appealing a Notice of Action in San Diego County
If San Diego 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 San Diego County IHSS appeal, Disability Rights California can be reached at 1-800-776-5746.
Heading into your San Diego 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 HHSA social worker.