IHSS in San Diego County: Phone Number, Pay Rate & How to Apply
Everything specific to San Diego County — current provider wages, your Public Authority, and how to appeal a Notice of Action.
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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.
Clara has San Diego County’s contacts and current wage, and can explain how hours are decided.
How to apply for IHSS in San Diego County
To apply for IHSS in San Diego County, call the county IHSS office. A social worker will take your application and arrange an in-home assessment.
San Diego County IHSS phone number
There is no statewide online IHSS application — applying means phoning your county. All San Diego County contacts →
The application form (SOC 295)
The state's written application is form SOC 295, Application for In-Home Supportive Services. You can fill it in ahead of time.
Open the SOC 295 form (PDF)Opens on the CDSS website. The form goes to San Diego County, not to the state, so call the number above to ask where to mail, fax or bring it.
Once you apply, the county schedules an in-home assessment. A social worker scores how much help you need with each task, and those scores decide your monthly hours — see how the Functional Index ranks work. If your hours are later denied or reduced, you have appeal rights with deadlines: how to appeal a Notice of Action. Becoming a paid provider is a separate process — start with the Provider Hub.
San Diego County by the Numbers
Statewide, 925,481 Californians received IHSS in July 2026, averaging 119 authorized hours a month. Source: CDSS IHSS Program Data.
How San Diego County has changed
11 months of official CDSS program data, Jan '24 to Jul '26.
Where should you start?
Pick the path that matches where you are right now.
Provider pay in 2027 in San Diego County
Agreement in place; no rate published
San Diego County's agreement with providers sets the wage at the state minimum wage plus a county supplement, listed as $3.50 an hour. It provides for the supplement to rise to $4.50 an hour "no sooner than March 1, 2027", and says supplement increases do not take effect until the State finishes programming its payroll system. The agreement runs through June 30, 2028. The county has not published a 2027 dollar rate.
California's minimum wage rises from $16.90 to $17.40 an hour on January 1, 2027. County IHSS wages are built on the state minimum wage, so no county's rate can be lower than that.
- To confirm your rate, call the San Diego County main IHSS line
- (800) 339-4661
Sources: County of San Diego, agreement between the IHSS Public Authority and providers, 2026 to 2028; California Department of Industrial Relations, News Release 2026-66. Checked October 7, 2026. Counties publish new rates through the autumn, so confirm before you plan around this. IHSSHours.com is independent and is not part of the county.
Provider orientation in San Diego County
In-person appointment first, then online
In person first: an appointment where you hand in your forms and documents. Then an online video session on Zoom, after which you sign the provider agreement (SOC 846) by email.
How to start: Call the Public Authority's Caregiver Enrollment Department, or use the online request on its website, to ask for an enrollment packet. Have the recipient's case number ready. The packet has the link to book your appointment.
- Caregiver Enrollment Department
- (866) 351-7722
- San Diego County main IHSS line
- (800) 339-4661
Source: San Diego IHSS Public Authority, checked October 5, 2026. Counties change how they run orientation, so confirm before you go. IHSSHours.com is independent and is not part of the county.
Provider Wage & Public Authority
- Current hourly wage
- $20.40/hr (new 3-yr contract eff. Jan 1, 2026)
- Public Authority
- SDIHSSPA (UDW/AFSCME)
- IHSS Application Line
- 1-800-339-4661
- SDIHSSPA Main Line
- 1-866-351-7722
- Application fax
- (619) 344-8077
- SDIHSSPA office
- 401 Mile of Cars Way, Ste. 200
National City, CA 91950
Wages change when union contracts are renegotiated or the state minimum wage rises. Confirm your current rate directly with SDIHSSPA before relying on this figure.
Check your weekly max as a San Diego County provider → Pre-filled with the county average of 119 authorized hours a month (CDSS) — swap in your recipient's number.
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.
San Diego County IHSS — Common Questions
How much do IHSS providers get paid in San Diego County?
What will IHSS providers be paid in San Diego County in 2027?
How many IHSS hours do people get in San Diego County?
How do I apply for IHSS in San Diego County?
How many people receive IHSS in San Diego County?
How many people receive Protective Supervision in San Diego County?
Can I be paid to care for a family member in San Diego County?
Figures are from CDSS program data (July 2026) and the CDSS county wage sheet (IP Effective 10-1-2026). County averages describe a caseload, not an entitlement — how we calculate estimates.
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 1-800-743-8525 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.
County data last updated 2026-10-07 · CDSS program data July 2026, wages IP Effective 10-1-2026.
