IHSS in Sonoma County: Phone Number, Pay Rate & How to Apply
Everything specific to Sonoma County — current provider wages, your Public Authority, and how to appeal a Notice of Action.
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Overview
Sonoma County's IHSS program is administered by the Human Services Department's Adult and Aging Division, with the Sonoma County IHSS Public Authority serving as Employer of Record and maintaining the provider registry for more than 7,000 care providers countywide.
Sonoma County recently ratified a new multi-year union contract with SEIU Local 2015 that is raising the local wage supplement on top of the state minimum wage — worth checking for the latest figure since it continues stepping up through 2026.
Clara has Sonoma County’s contacts and current wage, and can explain how hours are decided.
How to apply for IHSS in Sonoma County
To apply for IHSS in Sonoma County, call the county IHSS office. A social worker will take your application and arrange an in-home assessment.
Sonoma County IHSS phone number
There is no statewide online IHSS application — applying means phoning your county. All Sonoma 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 Sonoma 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.
Sonoma 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 Sonoma 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 Sonoma County
Not published yet
Sonoma 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 Sonoma County main IHSS line
- (707) 565-5900
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 Sonoma County
Not stated online
The county's pages do not describe new-provider orientation.
How to start: The county's "I want to become a paid caregiver" page covers only the Public Authority's caregiver registry application and gives a number for questions.
Call Sonoma County's main IHSS line and ask how new providers complete orientation.
- Sonoma County IHSS Public Authority
- (707) 565-5700
- Sonoma County main IHSS line
- (707) 565-5900
Source: Sonoma County, 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
- $20.25/hr
- Public Authority
- Sonoma County IHSS Public Authority (SEIU Local 2015)
- IHSS Referral / Intake
- (707) 565-5900
- Public Authority Registry
- (707) 565-5700
- Mailing Address
- 3725 Westwind Blvd.
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Sonoma's wage is a state minimum + local supplement combination that is scheduled to keep rising through 2026. Confirm your current rate directly with the Sonoma County Public Authority before relying on this figure.
Check your weekly max as a Sonoma County provider → Pre-filled with the county average of 121 authorized hours a month (CDSS) — swap in your recipient's number.
Local Notes & Quirks
- Wage set to keep climbing: Sonoma's 2024 union contract doubled the local wage supplement in 2025 and raises it further through 2026, so providers here should expect the rate to keep moving upward on a defined schedule rather than staying flat.
- Split intake and registry lines: IHSS referrals and general intake go through one number, while Public Authority registry applications for care providers go through a separate line — mixing them up is a common source of delay.
- North Bay care provider shortage: Sonoma County officials have cited significant unused authorized care hours in recent years, underscoring an ongoing local provider shortage worth being aware of if you're searching the registry.
Sonoma County IHSS — Common Questions
How much do IHSS providers get paid in Sonoma County?
What will IHSS providers be paid in Sonoma County in 2027?
How many IHSS hours do people get in Sonoma County?
How do I apply for IHSS in Sonoma County?
How many people receive IHSS in Sonoma County?
How many people receive Protective Supervision in Sonoma County?
Can I be paid to care for a family member in Sonoma 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 Sonoma County
If Sonoma 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 Sonoma 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.
