In-Home Support Service in Los Angeles
IHSS Is a Critical Resource for Families With Special Needs Children
For every family with a special needs child, in-home support service (IHSS) is a key resource that makes life easier not just for your child, but for the whole family. However, many families have found out the hard way how complicated it is when applying for IHSS. Because IHSS is a statewide program run by the California Department of Social Services, there is a lot of bureaucracy to work through. For many parents, the hoops that they must jump though in order to get the assistance they need is too much for them and their family to bare.
While there are many benefits that are available, the most imperative for families of children with special needs is Protective Supervision. When you are approved for Protective Supervision, you will receive an hourly wage to stay home and care for your child. Receiving or being denied this service can make a massive difference in the quality of life for a family that has a child with developmental disabilities.
What is IHSS?
IHSS is a federal, state, and locally funded program designed to provide personal and domestic services to elderly, blind or disabled people in their own homes. The motivation of this program is to allow the people who need it most to safely live long-term in their homes without moving to a costly out-of-home placement facility and provide aid to families who have members with special needs. Services provided by IHSS are based on need and could include:
- Domestic services such as meal preparation, cleaning, and errands.
- Personal care services such as bathing, grooming, and bowel and bladder needs.
- Transportation to medical services.
- Protective supervision.
Who Qualifies for IHSS?
When it comes to receiving IHSS in the state of California there are certain eligibility requirements. Those include:
- The recipient must physically reside in the United States.
- The recipient must also be a California resident.
- The recipient must have a Medi-Cal eligibility determination.
- The recipient must live at home or an abode of their own choosing (long-term care facilities, and licensed community care facilities are not considered “own home of choosing”).
- The recipient must submit a completed Health Care Certification form.
How to Apply for IHSS
Any individual who feels someone needs IHSS assistance can refer them to IHSS for an application. When filling out the application the following information is required:
- Name
- Address
- Phone Number
- Social Security Number
- Date of Birth
If Approved, What Control Do I Have Over Services?
While the regulations of the IHSS dictate the range of services that recipients receive, people approved for IHSS still have control over much of the program. Individuals and families who receive IHSS can hire the provider of their own choice if the provider fulfills state-mandated stipulations. If the recipient does not have a provider, the Public Authority (PA) will assist in the proceeding by sending a list of available providers matched to each recipients’ specific needs. The consumer can then interview potential providers from the list and hire one that works best for them and their family. The Public Authority’s role is to enhance the quality of services without interfering with the control offered to those who receive IHSS.
IHSS Appeals
Recipients of IHSS support services may appeal any denial or reduction in services and hours, including a withholding of the full number of hours the consumer feels they require. The consumer also has the ability to appeal a Share-of-Cost (SOC) determination, which is a decision asking that the recipient pay a share of the cost of in-home care because their income is above the SSI limit.
Due to very quick timelines required for an appeal, it is important to hire an experienced Los Angeles IHSS lawyer to preserve your services when you are notified of a reduction or of any change to your IHSS hours.