Get Paid to Care for a Family Member in California (IHSS)

In California, the state will pay you to take care of an aging parent, a disabled child, a spouse, or another relative at home. The program is called In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS). It is run by the California Department of Social Services and paid for through Medi-Cal, the state’s version of Medicaid.

If your family member already needs help to stay safe at home, and they qualify for full Medi-Cal, you can become their paid provider. This guide walks you through who can get paid, how much, and exactly where to apply.

Who can actually get paid?

Two people matter here, and both have to qualify. It helps to keep them separate.

1. The recipient — the person receiving care. To get IHSS, they must:

• Live in California, in their own home or apartment (not a hospital, nursing home, or licensed care facility).
• Have full-scope Medi-Cal. Most recipients qualify under the Aged, Blind & Disabled category, with income up to about $1,836 a month for one person (2026), and there’s a separate asset limit (about $130,000 for one person in 2026), so check the exact figures with your county.
• Be 65 or older, legally blind, or disabled under Social Security rules.
• Be unable to live safely at home without help.

2. The provider — the caregiver who gets paid. This is where family comes in. A provider can be:

• An adult child, sibling, grandchild, or other relative.
• A spouse (allowed in California, with some limits on hours).
• A parent of a minor child. Under AB 1287, effective February 19, 2024, parents can be paid to care for their own minor child who has a disability, as long as the child has a documented functional need on the assessment.

So the family member needing care is the one who has to be low-income on Medi-Cal. You, the caregiver, do not have an income limit. Your wage is paid by the state directly to you. It does not come out of your relative’s pocket or reduce their hours.

How much does IHSS pay in 2026?

IHSS pays an hourly wage, and that wage is set county by county. Each county negotiates its rate with the local caregiver union, and CDSS approves it. The state floor is California’s minimum wage, $16.90 an hour as of January 1, 2026.

In practice, 2026 rates run from about $16.90 in some rural counties to around $23.00 in San Francisco. Most counties fall somewhere in between, so check your county’s rate.

Two things shape your actual paycheck:

• Your county’s hourly rate (above).
• The monthly hours authorized for your relative. A county social worker decides this during a home assessment, based on how much help your relative truly needs. You cannot set your own hours.

Overtime rules apply too. Providers who work more than 40 hours a week can earn overtime, though counties cap weekly hours per provider.

How to apply, step by step

The order matters: the recipient gets approved for IHSS first, then you enroll as the provider.

Step 1 — The recipient applies for IHSS. Call or visit your county IHSS office, often part of the county social services or human services department. If your relative is not already on Medi-Cal, they apply for both at the same time through the county welfare department. There are separate applications for Medi-Cal and IHSS.

Step 2 — The home assessment. Within about 2 to 4 weeks, a county social worker visits the home and completes the SOC 293 functional assessment. They look at daily tasks — bathing, dressing, meals, mobility — and total up the monthly hours of care your relative is authorized to receive.

Step 3 — You become the provider. Once IHSS is approved, you enroll. Most counties require you to:

• Attend a provider orientation given by the county.
• Complete and sign the SOC 426 provider enrollment form and return it to the county IHSS office or Public Authority.
• Pass a criminal background check (DOJ and FBI Live Scan fingerprinting).
• Show you are authorized to work in the U.S. (Form I-9). This applies to all providers, including parents.
• Sign the provider agreement (SOC 846) at orientation.

Step 4 — Submit your hours and get paid. After enrollment, you log the hours you work, usually through the Electronic Services Portal, and CDSS pays you on the IHSS schedule.

Find your county’s office and orientation schedule through the CDSS provider page: How to Become an IHSS Provider.

IHSS can open the door to other help

Qualifying for IHSS usually means your relative is on Medi-Cal, and that often opens the door to other programs. The catch: none of these are automatic. Each one needs its own application, and each has its own rules.

• CalFresh (food benefits). A low-income household on Medi-Cal often qualifies for monthly food money on an EBT card. Apply separately through your county or BenefitsCal.com.
• Medi-Cal long-term services. Beyond IHSS, Medi-Cal can cover medical equipment, therapies, and care coordination — but only for those who meet each service’s medical-need rules.
• Utility and phone discounts. Medi-Cal enrollment can make a household eligible for discounted utilities and a free or low-cost phone, each through its own provider.
• Family Caregiver Support. California’s Caregiver Resource Centers offer counseling and respite help. This is support for you, not a paycheck, and is requested directly through the center.

The point is simple: being approved for one program is a strong sign you may qualify for others — but you have to apply for each one yourself.

Quick answers

Can I get paid to take care of my mother in California?
Yes, if she qualifies for IHSS — low-income, on full-scope Medi-Cal, and 65+, blind, or disabled. Once she is approved, you enroll as her paid provider and earn your county’s hourly wage.

Can a parent get paid to care for their disabled child?
Yes. Under AB 1287, since February 2024 a parent can be a paid IHSS provider for their own minor child, if the child has a documented functional need and the parent completes provider enrollment.

Does the caregiver have to be low-income?
No. Only the person receiving care has an income limit. The caregiver’s wage is paid by the state and does not depend on the caregiver’s income.

How many hours will I get paid for?
A county social worker sets the authorized hours during the home assessment, based on your relative’s needs. You cannot choose your own hours.

How long does approval take?
The home assessment usually happens within 2 to 4 weeks of applying. Provider enrollment (orientation, background check, paperwork) adds more time, so plan for a few weeks before your first paycheck.

Bottom line

California pays family members to keep their loved ones safely at home through IHSS. If your relative is on full-scope Medi-Cal and needs daily help, you can become their paid provider and earn your county’s hourly wage — with no income limit on you.

Start by having the person who needs care apply at your county IHSS office. After they are approved, enroll as their provider. Then check whether your household also qualifies for CalFresh and other Medi-Cal help, applying for each one on its own.