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A Family Checklist for the IHSS Assessment Visit

Updated September 16, 2026. Reviewed September 16, 2026 against public CDSS, DHCS, Medicare.gov, VA, and CareScout 2025 California tables. County wages, hours, and wait times still change. Official .gov pages decide.

A factual family checklist for the IHSS home visit: typical-day notes, SOC 873, ID, who will be present, and the walker or shower setup as used. Do not inflate. Do not shrink.

About 4 minutes to read. Based on CDSS and DHCS public program pages retrieved 2026-09-16. County offices apply these rules. Hourly rates, hour totals, and wait times are local and change.

Short answer

Before the county social worker visits, gather typical-day notes, confirm SOC 873 is in the file, have identification the county asked for, decide who will be present, and leave walkers and shower equipment as they are actually used. Describe the help that happens. Do not inflate. Do not shrink. The worker authorizes tasks from that picture using Functional Index Rankings and Hourly Task Guidelines.

Who decides

The county IHSS social worker assesses need in the home and authorizes tasks and hours. You and the recipient describe a typical day. Medi-Cal still has to be in place for the case to finish.

What to do next

Write a short typical-day list, confirm SOC 873 was returned, ask the recipient who should be in the room, and leave mobility and bath equipment where they are used.

This is a factual list, not a performance plan

A family helping a parent after a hospital stay, or a grandparent after a fall, often wants a checklist they can hold. Preparing for the home visit is the parent-journey companion. What to expect at the assessment is the statewide visit explainer. This page is the kitchen-table list: what to have in hand, what to leave in place, and what not to do.

The social worker uses Functional Index Rankings and Hourly Task Guidelines. You do not need to quote those tools. You need an accurate typical day. Do not inflate. Do not shrink.

Paper and identification

  • Confirm SOC 873 or acceptable alternative documentation reached the county
  • Medi-Cal case number if you have it, spelled as it appears on the file
  • A copy of SOC 295 and the date it was submitted
  • Identification the county asked the recipient to show
  • Written permission so the county can speak with a listed family contact, if that is not already on file

Do not stack the entire medical chart on the coffee table unless a worker named a page. Extra unlabeled records slow a visit. Keep discharge instructions for your own care routine.

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Questions people ask

Should we clean the house as if company is coming?
The worker needs the home as it is used. A walker in a closet and a shower chair in the garage hide the real setup. Ordinary tidy is fine. A staged independent house is not useful.
Can more than one relative talk?
Usually the recipient answers first. Others add what they see if the recipient wants them there. Pick one extra voice if you can so the visit is not a debate. Ask the worker how they want two speakers handled.
Do we bring a requested hour total?
No. Describe tasks. The county writes hours on the notice. A family spreadsheet of requested totals is not the assessment method.
What if needs changed after the last visit?
Ask the county for a new assessment. [Asking after a change](/guides/asking-for-new-ihss-assessment-after-change) is that path. Bring an updated typical-day list, not a fight about the old notice.

Official sources for this guide

Related pages on California Home Help

Reviewed against CDSS, DHCS, Medicare.gov, and CareScout public pages. We do not quote IHSS wages. County IHSS offices and Medi-Cal decide eligibility, hours, and pay. For current county wage rates, use the official CDSS wage page. CDSS county IHSS wage rates.

Official program pages: CDSS: In-Home Supportive Services, CDSS: IHSS for children, County IHSS offices, CDSS: IHSS providers, CDSS: county IHSS wage rates, CDSS: provider orientation, CDSS: Electronic Visit Verification, CDSS: Electronic Services Portal, DHCS: Medi-Cal, Apply for Medi-Cal, BenefitsCal, CDSS: hearing requests, CDSS: forms catalog, CDSS: IHSS overtime and workweek, DDS: regional centers.

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