This year’s budget trailer bill continues the 3.6% IHSS hours reduction from the prior year. This letter implements that continued cut. The new reduction of 3.6 percent to every IHSS recipient’s total authorized hours will be effective beginning August 1, 2012. Notices will be mailed beginning July 16, 2012. (The temp NOA is attached.) Recipients will still be able to choose which specific authorized IHSS services they want to reduce. The new 3.6 percent reduction will first be applied to any documented unmet need (other than protective supervision).
A county that receives a request for a reassessment during the 90 days following issuance of a NOA generated by the 3.6 percent reduction must evaluate whether the request’s purpose is to dispute the 3.6 percent reduction, or whether there has been a change affecting the recipient’s functional abilities. IF the county decides it’s just to dispute the hour reduction, it shall not do the reassessment, but shall explain state hearing rights. [Download]