California Home Help

For caregivers

Family caregiving is work. California has a way to pay for it.

In-Home Supportive Services lets many eligible people hire the helper they want — including a relative, friend, or neighbor — to do the tasks a county social worker authorizes. You are not promised a paycheck by this website. The county and the state decide enrollment and payment.

You can often be the provider

CDSS says care providers may include family members, friends, neighbors, or registered Public Authority providers. Adult children and other relatives are commonly allowed once they finish enrollment (county orientation, provider forms, and a Department of Justice background check). A spouse, or a parent of a child under 18, is generally not paid under the Personal Care Services Program (PCSP). Other IHSS sub-programs (CFCO, IPO, or IHSS-Residual) can allow it after enrollment. Ask the county which program applies — do not assume a yes or a no from a blog post.

The State issues the provider check

When a provider is enrolled and hours are authorized, the State issues individual-provider payments. Hourly rates are set locally (unions and the county employer of record negotiate them) and are not listed here because they change. If the recipient has a Medi-Cal share of cost, CDSS says unpaid share of cost can come out of the provider warrant — and the recipient then pays that amount to the provider. The family is not always off the hook.

Paperwork is the usual blocker

Provider enrollment, timesheets (including Electronic Visit Verification), and county packets are where families stall. California Home Help’s job is to help you complete and track that work — not to replace the county social worker.

Official program pages: CDSS IHSS, IHSS for children, DHCS Medi-Cal, and county IHSS offices.

We handle the paperwork with you.

Share a few details. A California Home Help coordinator will follow up about IHSS and Medi-Cal forms — not to sell an AI companion, and not to tell you that you are already approved.

  • No diagnosis asked
  • County still decides
  • You can stop anytime
  • Operated by Sevah

For example: starting an IHSS application, provider enrollment, or county forms. Please do not include medical records or diagnoses.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is California Home Help a county or Medi-Cal office?

No. We are a private service operated by Sevah Robotics, Inc. We help families understand IHSS and complete paperwork. Approvals, hours, and payments are made by the county and the state.

Do you guarantee that I will be approved or paid?

No. Nobody except the county IHSS program and Medi-Cal can decide eligibility, authorized hours, or provider enrollment. We will not tell you that you “qualify” from a website form.

Can a family member be paid?

Often yes for an adult child, other relative, friend, or neighbor who finishes provider enrollment. A spouse, or a parent of a child under 18, is generally not paid under PCSP. Other IHSS sub-programs can allow it. Check with the county rather than treating a national article as California law.

Does the family ever pay the caregiver?

The State issues the provider check for authorized hours. If the recipient has a Medi-Cal share of cost, CDSS says unpaid share of cost can be deducted from that check and the recipient then pays the provider. Ask the county whether a share of cost applies. We will not quote an amount.

Is this the same as home health or a nursing facility?

No. IHSS is in-home personal and household help for people who can live at home. Skilled nursing and therapy are different Medi-Cal or Medicare benefits.

What do you need from me to get started?

A name, a way to reach you, your county if you know it, and whether you are the caregiver or the person who needs care. Please do not send medical records or diagnoses through the form.

We handle the paperwork.

Tell us whether you give care or need it. A coordinator helps with IHSS and Medi-Cal forms. The county still decides.

Get started