Everything specific to San Mateo County — current provider wages, your Public Authority, and how to appeal a Notice of Action.
📩 Get occasional IHSS policy updates & new county guides:
$21.70
Hourly Wage
Effective Jan 1, 2026 · CDSS
San Mateo Co. PA
Public Authority
#2
Highest-Paying County in CA
Overview
San Mateo County's IHSS program is administered by San Mateo County Health, with the San Mateo County Public Authority serving as Employer of Record and operating the provider registry — one of the highest-paying counties in California, second only to San Francisco.
Applications and general assistance route through the county's Aging and Disability Services Line, while payroll, timesheets, and registry questions are handled separately by the Public Authority.
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Questions about IHSS in San Mateo County?
Clara has San Mateo County’s contacts and current wage, and can explain how hours are decided.
San Mateo County by the Numbers
Official CDSS figuresCDSS program data · July 2026
9,601
Recipients Served
135.8
Avg Monthly Hours Authorized
16.8 above state avg
9,833
Active Providers
1,385
Receiving Protective Supervision
14% of recipients
Average authorized hours vs. California
135.8 hrs
state avg 119
Provider wage vs. California average
$21.70/hr
CA county avg $18.95
Wage rank #3 of 58Hours rank #5 of 58
Communities served: Daly City, San Mateo, Redwood City, South San Francisco 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 renegotiated periodically. Confirm your current rate directly with the San Mateo County Public Authority before relying on this figure.
Local Notes & Quirks
One of the highest-paying counties in the state: At $21.70/hr, San Mateo trails only San Francisco statewide — a reflection of the Bay Area's cost of living and years of SEIU 2015 bargaining.
Separate application and payroll lines: Applying for IHSS goes through the Aging and Disability Services Line, while the Public Authority itself handles payroll, timesheets, and the provider registry — two different numbers for two different needs.
Provider benefits beyond wages: San Mateo offers eligible providers voluntary health and dental/vision insurance, paid sick leave, a public transportation benefit, and reimbursement for pre-approved caregiving classes.
Appealing a Notice of Action in San Mateo County
If San Mateo 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 Mateo County IHSS appeal, Disability Rights California can be reached at 1-800-776-5746.
Heading into your San Mateo 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.