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.
Provider Wage & Public Authority
San Diego County IHSS Contacts
- Current hourly wage
- $19.40/hr (new 3-yr contract eff. Jan 1, 2026)
- Public Authority
- SDIHSSPA (UDW/AFSCME)
- Application fax
- (619) 344-8077
- SDIHSSPA office
- 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.