IHSS in San Mateo County: Phone Number, Pay Rate & How to Apply
Everything specific to San Mateo County — current provider wages, your Public Authority, and how to appeal a Notice of Action.
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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.
Clara has San Mateo County’s contacts and current wage, and can explain how hours are decided.
How to apply for IHSS in San Mateo County
To apply for IHSS in San Mateo County, call the county IHSS office. A social worker will take your application and arrange an in-home assessment.
San Mateo County IHSS phone number
There is no statewide online IHSS application — applying means phoning your county. All San Mateo 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 Mateo 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 Mateo 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 Mateo 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 Mateo County
Not published yet
San Mateo County has not published a provider pay rate for 2027.
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 Mateo County main IHSS line
- 1-800-675-8437
Sources: 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 Mateo County
Orientation video online
Orientation is a required video on the Public Authority's web page. Enrollment is by packet: you fill it out and return it by mail or email with copies of your ID and Social Security card.
How to start: You cannot start this yourself. The county says the client, or the client's Authorized Representative, must call the Public Authority to start enrollment and get the packet.
- San Mateo County Public Authority (the client makes this call)
- (833) 650-2272
- San Mateo County main IHSS line
- 1-800-675-8437
Source: San Mateo County Health, 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
- $21.70/hr
- Public Authority
- San Mateo County Public Authority (SEIU Local 2015)
- Aging & Disability Services Hotline
- 1-800-675-8437
Does the eligibility screening. San Mateo asks people to start with its online IHSS referral form where possible. - Aging & Disability Services (direct)
- (650) 573-3900
- Public Authority (payroll)
- (650) 389-9666
- Provider Help Desk
- 1-866-376-7066
- Mailing Address
- P.O. Box 5892
San Mateo, CA 94402
Wages are renegotiated periodically. Confirm your current rate directly with the San Mateo County Public Authority before relying on this figure.
Check your weekly max as a San Mateo County provider → Pre-filled with the county average of 136 authorized hours a month (CDSS) — swap in your recipient's number.
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.
San Mateo County IHSS — Common Questions
How much do IHSS providers get paid in San Mateo County?
What will IHSS providers be paid in San Mateo County in 2027?
How many IHSS hours do people get in San Mateo County?
How do I apply for IHSS in San Mateo County?
How many people receive IHSS in San Mateo County?
How many people receive Protective Supervision in San Mateo County?
Can I be paid to care for a family member in San Mateo 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 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 1-800-743-8525 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 Mateo 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.
