Everything specific to Santa Clara County — current provider wages, your Public Authority, and how to appeal a Notice of Action.
📩 Get occasional IHSS policy updates & new county guides:
$20.44
Hourly Wage
Effective Jan 1, 2026 · CDSS
Sourcewise
Public Authority
36,000+
Consumers Served
Overview
Santa Clara County's IHSS program is administered by the Social Services Agency (SSA), with provider enrollment, registry, training, and benefits handled by Public Authority Services by Sourcewise (formerly known as PASCC) — now serving over 36,000 IHSS consumers and supporting more than 38,000 independent care providers.
Santa Clara County's hourly wage of $20.44 reflects a $0.40 increase effective January 1, 2026, tied to the state minimum wage adjustment — one of the higher county rates in California, consistent with the broader Bay Area cost-of-living pattern.
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Questions about IHSS in Santa Clara County?
Clara has Santa Clara County’s contacts and current wage, and can explain how hours are decided.
Santa Clara County by the Numbers
Official CDSS figuresCDSS program data · July 2026
38,707
Recipients Served
132.6
Avg Monthly Hours Authorized
13.6 above state avg
41,656
Active Providers
5,841
Receiving Protective Supervision
15% of recipients
Average authorized hours vs. California
132.6 hrs
state avg 119
Provider wage vs. California average
$20.44/hr
CA county avg $18.95
Wage rank #9 of 58Hours rank #7 of 58
Communities served: San Jose, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Palo Alto, Mountain View, Milpitas, Cupertino, Gilroy, Campbell, Morgan Hill 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 roughly twice a year. Confirm your current rate directly with Sourcewise before relying on this figure.
Local Notes & Quirks
Recently rebranded: The county's longtime Public Authority (PASCC) now operates as "Public Authority Services by Sourcewise" — same organization, new name, so don't be confused if you see both used in older materials.
In-person orientation, weekly schedule: New provider orientation meetings run most Fridays at 9am and 2pm — no appointment required, but arriving late may mean you're not admitted that session.
Free VTA transit pass for providers: Active IHSS providers in Santa Clara County are eligible for a free VTA SmartPass, covering local bus and light rail — a benefit not common in most other counties.
Appealing a Notice of Action in Santa Clara County
If Santa Clara 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 Clara County IHSS appeal, Disability Rights California can be reached at 1-800-776-5746.
Heading into your Santa Clara 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 SSA social worker.