Overview
Santa Barbara County's IHSS program is administered by the County Department of Social Services, with the Santa Barbara County IHSS Public Authority serving as Employer of Record and operating the provider registry for roughly 4,800 in-home caregivers countywide.
Providers here are represented by UDW/AFSCME Local 3930 rather than SEIU — a distinction from most other California counties — and recently secured a new three-year contract with a defined wage step schedule running through 2027.
Provider Wage & Public Authority
Santa Barbara County IHSS Contacts
- Current hourly wage
- $20.07/hr
- Public Authority
- Santa Barbara County IHSS Public Authority (UDW/AFSCME Local 3930)
- Office Address
- 304 West Carmen Lane
Santa Maria, CA 93458
Santa Barbara's wage is on a scheduled step increase through 2027. Confirm your current rate directly with the Santa Barbara County Public Authority before relying on this figure.
Local Notes & Quirks
- Represented by UDW, not SEIU: Unlike most California counties where SEIU Local 2015 bargains on providers' behalf, Santa Barbara County IHSS providers belong to UDW/AFSCME Local 3930 — worth knowing if you're looking for union resources.
- Scheduled wage increases through 2027: The county's 2026 contract locks in defined step increases rather than a single flat raise — the rate can change more than once within the same year, so always confirm the current figure.
- Two office locations: Santa Barbara County IHSS maintains separate offices in Santa Maria and the city of Santa Barbara, each with its own direct line, reflecting the county's geographic spread.
Appealing a Notice of Action in Santa Barbara County
If Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara County IHSS appeal, Disability Rights California can be reached at 1-800-776-5746.
Heading into your Santa Barbara 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.