California Home Help

GuidesCommon situations

Common situations

Transferring an IHSS Case When the Home Changes Counties

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.

When an existing IHSS household moves between California counties, ask both offices what transfers, what is new, and how providers follow the address.

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

IHSS is statewide, and the county where the person lives runs the local case. When an existing household moves from one California county to another, ask both IHSS offices what they transfer, what they need again, and how provider enrollment and timesheets follow the new address. Do not invent a processing time.

Who decides

The new county IHSS office and Medi-Cal run the case after the move. The old county can tell you what they send. Local wages and some provider rules can change with the new employer of record.

What to do next

Write the old address, new address, and move date, then call both county IHSS offices on the CDSS list before the household actually changes counties.

Same program, new front door

A composite family: a parent on IHSS leaves one California county to live with an adult child in another. The program is still IHSS. The file is not automatically the same drawer. Moving counties with IHSS is the checklist version. This page is the existing-case, family-situation frame: you already have a notice, a provider, and a folder, and the home address is about to change.

CDSS administers IHSS statewide. County offices take applications, assess need, and authorize tasks. After the move, the new county is the office that runs the file. Use the CDSS county IHSS office list for both numbers. Talking to the county office is the tone: addresses, case numbers, move date.

Ask both offices the same short list

  1. Give the old address, the new address, and the date the home actually changes.
  2. Ask the old county what they send and what you should carry.
  3. Ask the new county how they receive a case from another county.
  4. Ask whether Medi-Cal must be updated on its own track, including BenefitsCal.
  5. Ask whether a new SOC 295, a new SOC 873, or a new home visit is required.
  6. Ask how the provider file, timesheets, and EVV follow the move.
  7. Ask how an adult child is listed in the new county.

Write the answers down. Do not invent a number of days. Each office can tell you what is typical locally. Tracking paperwork matters more during a move than during a quiet month.

Free account

Create a free account to unlock the complete guide

The short answer and first sections stay free. Create a free account to unlock the rest, including printable checklists and full planner detail. Education first. The county still decides.

Create a free account

Share a few details if you want help figuring out next steps. A California Home Help coordinator follows up. Your county IHSS office and Medi-Cal still decide the case.

At least 8 characters.

Already have an account? Sign in

Questions people ask

Does an existing case restart from SOC 295?
Ask both offices. Some information can transfer. The new county still runs the local case and may need pages or a new visit. Do not assume a full restart or a silent handoff.
Will the same adult child stay listed?
Ask the new county how they record a contact. An old listing may not travel. Complete their authorization step so they can speak with you.
Does the provider have to enroll again?
Ask both offices how the provider file, timesheets, and EVV follow the new county. Address updates and full re-enrollment are different answers.
What if we move while a hearing or application is open?
Tell both offices immediately. Pending work in the old county may not follow the new address unless someone updates it.

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.

Keep reading