IHSS in Sierra County: Phone Number, Pay Rate & How to Apply
Everything specific to Sierra County — current provider wages, your Public Authority, and how to appeal a Notice of Action.
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Overview
Sierra County's IHSS program is administered through the Nevada-Sierra Regional IHSS Public Authority — a joint structure established in 2003 to serve Nevada, Sierra, and Plumas counties together, reflecting the small populations of all three Sierra Nevada counties.
Registry and payroll functions are handled through Connecting Point, the same community nonprofit that operates the regional registry for Nevada County, giving Sierra County residents access to a shared administrative infrastructure they couldn't practically maintain alone.
Clara has Sierra County’s contacts and current wage, and can explain how hours are decided.
How to apply for IHSS in Sierra County
To apply for IHSS in Sierra County, call the county IHSS office. A social worker will take your application and arrange an in-home assessment.
Sierra County IHSS phone number
There is no statewide online IHSS application — applying means phoning your county. All Sierra 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 Sierra 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.
Sierra 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 Sierra 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 Sierra County
Not published yet
Sierra 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 Sierra County main IHSS line
- (530) 993-6720
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 Sierra County
Online first, then in person
Online first: complete the online orientation, including the State videos, and sign the forms in Connecting Point's Provider Enrollment Application. Then an in-person appointment to show your ID and Social Security card and pick up the fingerprint form.
How to start: Start online from Connecting Point's Sierra County step-by-step page, then call to schedule the in-person appointment. The page says the appointment is "for Downieville or Loyalton" but gives no address, so confirm the place when you call.
- Connecting Point (regional IHSS Public Authority)
- (530) 205-5224
- Sierra County main IHSS line
- (530) 993-6720
Source: Connecting Point (regional 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
- $18.50/hr
- Public Authority
- Nevada-Sierra Regional IHSS Public Authority
- Connecting Point (registry, payroll)
- (530) 274-5601
Wage figures for Sierra County vary between sources — confirm your current rate directly with Connecting Point or the Nevada-Sierra Regional Public Authority before relying on this figure.
Check your weekly max as a Sierra County provider → Pre-filled with the county average of 141 authorized hours a month (CDSS) — swap in your recipient's number.
Local Notes & Quirks
- One of California's least populous counties: with roughly 3,000 residents, Sierra County relies on the shared regional Public Authority structure rather than maintaining independent registry infrastructure.
- Same registry operator as Nevada County: Connecting Point handles registry matching, provider enrollment, and payroll troubleshooting for Sierra County providers, identical to the setup used in neighboring Nevada County.
- Remote Sierra Nevada geography: Sierra County's mountainous terrain means seasonal weather can significantly affect travel for both providers and county staff — worth planning around during winter months.
Sierra County IHSS — Common Questions
How much do IHSS providers get paid in Sierra County?
What will IHSS providers be paid in Sierra County in 2027?
How many IHSS hours do people get in Sierra County?
How do I apply for IHSS in Sierra County?
How many people receive IHSS in Sierra County?
How many people receive Protective Supervision in Sierra County?
Can I be paid to care for a family member in Sierra 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 Sierra County
If Sierra 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 Sierra 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.
