The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has provided information about State Supplemental Paid Sick Leave for In Home Supportive Services (IHSS) providers. Supplemental Paid Sick leave provides 80 hours of sick leave for IHSS providers in addition to the regular 16 hours of sick leave provided by the IHSS. State Supplemental Paid Sick Leave is available for IHSS providers when the provider is unable to work for a reason related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Supplemental Paid Sick Leave is available retroactively to January 1, 2021. For claims for sick leave prior to March 31, 2021, counties should verify whether a previous sick leave claim was submitted. If a claim was not previously submitted, federal Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (EPSLA) funds must be used before State supplemental paid sick leave for leave prior to March 31, 2021. While EPSLA placed providers on a two week paid leave, State Supplemental Paid Sick Leave is claimed in hourly increments, as determined by the county.
IHSS providers taking sick leave must not be listed on a timesheet for any hours the recipient claims for paid sick leave.
Reasons to be qualified for State Supplemental Paid Sick Leave include:
- The provider is subject to a quarantine or isolation period related to COVID-19 as defined by an order or guidelines of the State Department of Public Health, the CDC, or a local health officer.
- The provider has been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine due to concerns related to COVID-19.
- The provider is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and is seeking a medical diagnosis.
- The provider is attending an appointment to receive a vaccine for protection against contracting COVID-19 (Up to a maximum of 4 hours).
- The provider is experiencing symptoms related to a COVID-19 vaccine that prevents the provider from being able to work.
- The provider is caring for a family member who has been advised to self-quarantine due to concerns related to COVID-19.
- The provider is caring for a child whose school or place of care has been closed or is determined otherwise unavailable for reasons related to COVID-19 on the premises.
CDSS has revised the COVID-19 paid sick leave request form to allow requests based on federal or state requirements. CDSS has notices for both providers and recipients to inform them of the new State supplemental paid sick leave. Providers will be informed of their ability to submit claims for State supplemental paid sick leave and under what circumstances they may claim it. Recipients will be informed of their ability to request an emergency back-up provider, should their primary provider need to claim federal emergency or State supplemental paid sick leave related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Supplemental Paid Sick Leave is available until September 30, 2021. (ACL 21-36, March 30, 2021.)