Do Parents Automatically Qualify as IHSS Providers?

If you’re a parent caring for a child with disabilities, you may be wondering whether you’re automatically eligible to be your child’s IHSS (In-Home Supportive Services) provider—or whether you must go through a separate application process.

The answer is important, because being approved as the provider ensures you get paid for the care you’re already giving.

Here’s what you need to know.

Parents Are Not Automatically Approved as IHSS Providers

Even though parents are often the best caregivers for their children, IHSS does not automatically approve parents as providers.

There are two approvals that must happen separately:

1. Approval of the child for IHSS services
2. Approval of the parent as the IHSS provider

The child must first qualify for IHSS hours, and then the parent must complete provider enrollment to get paid for providing those hours.

Step 1: Your Child Must Be Approved for IHSS

Your child must undergo:

• An in-home assessment
• A review of medical needs
• A determination of the number of hours needed
• Approval from the county social worker

The county approves hours before any provider is assigned.
Once the child is approved, the county will ask:
“Who will be the care provider?”

This is where the parent can step in.

Step 2: Parents Must Apply and Enroll as IHSS Providers

Parents need to complete the IHSS Provider Enrollment Process, which includes:

• Filling out provider enrollment forms
• Completing an online or in-person orientation
• Passing a background check (criminal background check through DOJ)
• Submitting fingerprints
• Registering in the Electronic Services Portal (ESP) for timesheets

Only after completing these steps can the parent begin submitting timesheets and getting paid.

When Are Parents Allowed to Be Providers?

Parents can serve as IHSS providers when:

• No other suitable provider is available
• The care is needed at times when the parent would otherwise be working
• The child requires “protective supervision” or constant monitoring
• The child requires specialized or parent-specific care
• The parent needs to remain at home because the child cannot be safely left alone

In most cases involving minors with special needs, parents are eligible, but they still must enroll as providers.

Can Both Parents Be Providers?

Usually, only one parent is the approved, paid IHSS provider.
The exception:
If parents live in separate households or share custody, each may provide care only for the hours the child is physically with them, depending on county rules and custody arrangements.

Do Parents Need to Apply Again if Hours Change?

No.
Once approved as a provider, the parent does not need to reapply each time the county adjusts the child’s hours.
However:

• Timesheet rules still apply
• Overtime and maximum weekly hours must be followed
• Providers may need to update training or portal information occasionally

Why IHSS Doesn’t Automatically Approve Parents

The state separates the child’s eligibility from the provider’s eligibility because:

• Counties must verify the need for services
• Providers must undergo background checks
• The state needs documentation for payroll and audits
• IHSS is a Medicaid-funded program and requires strict compliance

So even though parents are the natural caregivers, the state still requires a formal process.

Bottom Line

Parents are not automatically approved as IHSS caregivers.
You must:

1. Get your child approved for IHSS hours
2. Complete the IHSS provider enrollment process

Once those steps are done, you can legally and officially be paid for the care you already provide every day.

Need help? In California, the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program provides crucial financial help for families raising children with special needs. American Advocacy Group is on the front lines every day, making positive change happen for people diagnosed with autism, Down syndrome, and a range of diagnoses across the continuum. As a leading advocate for all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families, and the premier provider of the support and services people want and need, we understand the system and know how to take action regarding your best interests.

CONTACT US FOR HELP. Dial (877) 762-0702 or email us at [email protected].