The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) informs counties that personal protective equipment is being made available to both In Home Supportive Services (IHSS) providers and recipients who requests it. Personal protective equipment is available at the Public Authority offices in each county. Each set of personal protective equipment will include a face mask and a pair of gloves. (ACL 20-61, June 1, 2020.)
Summaries of select CalWORKs, CalFresh, Health and Housing Regulations
IHSS
COVID-19 personal protective equipment for IHSS providers
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) informs counties that personal protective equipment is being made available to any In Home Supportive Services (IHSS) provider who requests it. Personal protective equipment is available at the Public Authority offices in each county. Each set of personal protective equipment will include a face mask and a pair of gloves. (ACL 20-57, May 19, 2020.)
This letter is superceeded by ACL 20-61, June 1, 2020, which adds that personal protective equipment is also available for IHSS recipients.
IHSS medical accompaniment
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has provided additional guidance regarding In Home Supportive Services (IHSS) medical accompaniment services. Medical accompaniment is assistance necessary for the recipient to accomplish travel to and attend medical appointments. ACL 17-42 states that accompaniment is only authorized when the recipient needs another IHSS service during transportation and/or at the destination.
CDSS is adding that the recipient is eligible for medical accompaniment services when the recipient cannot accomplish travel to a health care appointment or alternative resource site alone because of their disability and the presence of the IHSS provider would allow the recipient to accomplish the travel. In this situation, the county can authorize accompaniment because the providers presence assists the recipient in accomplishing the travel.
Waiting time associated with the appointment should be authorized if the recipient continues to require the assistance of the provider to remain at the appointment. If the recipient can attend the appointment without the provider, waiting time should only be authorized in accordance with ACL 16-01 and ACL 17-42. (ACL 20-35, May 8, 2020.)
COVID-19 IHSS parent providers
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued guidance regarding redetermination of eligibility of a parent to be a paid In Home Supportive Services (IHSS) provider for their minor child during COVID-19. In general, parents are allowed to be paid IHSS providers for their minor children if the parent has left full-time employment or is prevented from obtaining full-time employment because no other suitable provider is available and the child is at risk of inappropriate placement or inadequate care unless the parent provides services. In a two-parent household where one parent is a paid IHSS provider for a minor child, if the second parent loses employment or is no longer attending school or vocational training, the second parent is considered a suitable provider.
Through June 30, 2020, counties cannot reduce IHSS hours for any reason, including that a reassessment results in a parent being found ineligible to be a paid provider. After June 30, 2020, if the second parent continues to be able and available, they will be considered a suitable provider and the first parent will no longer be eligible to be a paid provider. If by June 30, 2020, the second parent again becomes unable or unavailable to provide services, the eligibility of the first parent to be a paid provider will not change.
If a reassessment prior to June 30, 2020 determines that parents are no longer eligible to hire a non-parent provider for their minor children, that change cannot occur until after June 30, 2020. (ACL 20-49, April 23, 2020.)
COVID-19 sick leave for IHSS providers
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued information to counties about the two weeks of emergency paid sick leave in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act for In Home Supportive Services (IHSS) and Waiver Personal Care Services (WPCS) providers. An IHSS or WPCS provider may request sick leave from April 2, 2020 until December 31, 2020 if the provider is unable to work because of one of six listed COVID-19 related reasons.
If the provider normally works 160 hours or more per month, they are entitled to 80 hours of COVID-19 sick leave. If the provider works less than 160 hours per month, the county must calculate an average of monthly paid hours for the previous six months, and divide that by half to determine the number of hours of sick leave. If the provider has less than six months of employment, the county uses the available employment history. If the provider has less and two weeks of payroll history, counties will use the authorized hours for this calculation.
When a provider needs to take COVID-19 sick leave, they should contact the recipient and tell them they will be out sick and to advise them to contact the county, or for WPCS, the Department of Health Care Services, for assistance. The provider should then complete the COVID-19 sick leave form, TEMP 3021.
CDSS will inform all IHSS and WPCS recipients and providers about COVID-19 sick leave by mailing two informational notices. (ACL 20-40, April 14, 2020.)
COVID-19 personal protective equipment for IHSS providers
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) informs counties that personal protective equipment is being made available to In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Public Authority offices in each county to distribute to IHSS Providers who are taking care of individuals with suspect or confirmed COVID-19. Each set of personal protective equipment will include a face mask and a pair of gloves. (ACL 20-41, April 17, 2020.)