IHSS also pays non-relative caregivers. If you want steady, meaningful work helping seniors and people with disabilities stay safely at home, you can enroll as an IHSS provider, join your county’s Public Authority registry, and be hired directly by recipients. This page explains who can do the job, how to enroll, where to find official info, and what to expect on pay, hours, timesheets, and rules.
Official IHSS info: California Department of Social Services

who can work as an IHSS caregiver (non-family)?

• Community caregivers (not related to the client) may enroll and work once cleared and selected by a recipient. CDSS
• Minimum age is generally 18; some counties allow approved minors with a valid work permit (local policy varies; example: Napa allows 12+ with permit). Napa County FAQ · CDE Work Permit FAQ
• You are hired directly by the IHSS recipient (or their authorized representative), not the state/county. CDSS

enrollment steps (statewide basics)

• Attend your county/provider orientation (in-person or virtual, varies by county; see local page). Example: LA County · Fresno County
• Complete Live Scan fingerprints for the DOJ background check. You pay the fingerprint/background fees; typical total is about $40–$90 depending on site. Sacramento PA · SOC 847 · Live Scan locations
• Sign required state forms: SOC 426 Provider Enrollment · SOC 846/847 Provider Agreement & background notice · SOC 2255 Workweek & travel rules
• You can only be paid after a recipient selects you and your enrollment clears. Then register for the Electronic Services Portal (ESP) to get paid. ESP: etimesheets.ihss.ca.gov · Your guide: The Ways of the ESP (awesomeluck.com)

background check (Live Scan) — cost, timing & disqualifying crimes

• Who pays? State law requires the provider to pay Live Scan/background costs; local “rolling” fees vary. Expect roughly $40–$90 total. Sacramento PA · SOC 847 · DOJ example fee
• How long? Processing time depends on DOJ/FBI; many clear within days, but delays happen if records require manual review. CDSS Live Scan info
• Crimes. Certain serious convictions (often called Tier 1) are non-waivable; others (Tier 2) may be eligible for an individual waiver (specific recipient) or a general exception (registry listing) with documentation. See: ACL 11-12 (AB 1612) · Tier 2 crimes list · SOC 847 (waiver/exception). Talk to your county PA for the current list and waiver steps.

important notes (read this)

• Non-waivable (Tier 1) crimes permanently bar provider enrollment. CDSS lists ~60 non-exemptible
  crimes (e.g., murder, rape, kidnapping, arson, sex-registration crimes). Source: CDSS non-exemptible overview.
• Tier 2 crimes may qualify for an Individual Waiver (one specific recipient who requests you via SOC 862) or a General Exception (broader). See ACL 11-12 · Tier 2 list · SOC 847 · SOC 862.
• PC 487 (grand theft) tied to IHSS/government fraud can be treated as Tier 1 (no waiver). See ACIN I-04-12.
• Processing & cost: Provider pays Live Scan/background fees; many counties cite ~$40–$90 total depending on location. Examples:
  

• orientation: what it actually covers

  County/Public Authority orientation is not fluff — it covers program rules, EVV/timesheets, fraud prevention, and how pay works. Most counties use an online video + in-person appointment model and verify your ID/SSN and forms. Examples: LA County · Fresno County.

• what caregivers can be paid to do (examples)

  IHSS authorizes specific tasks based on the client’s assessed need.

  • Domestic services (clean kitchen/bath, trash, linens). PASCC service list
  • Related services (meal prep, shopping, laundry). CDSS
  • Personal care (bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, feeding, mobility help; medication reminders/hand-off). CDSS
  • Accompaniment to medical/alternative-resource appointments (including wait time in certain cases). PASCC
  • Protective Supervision (safety monitoring for qualifying cognitive impairment). DRC explainer
  • Paramedical tasks (when a clinician orders/trains via SOC 321). CDSS training module
  • One-time heavy cleaning/yard hazard abatement when needed for safety (limited). Justice in Aging

  Not covered: routine gardening, home repairs/improvements, services for household members who aren’t the recipient, or services while the recipient is in a hospital/facility. CDSS

  pay, hours, caps & violations (read this carefully)

  • Pay varies by county (set in county–union MOUs). See a current county-by-county list: IHSSAdvocate: Wages by County.
  • Overtime/weekly caps. Over 40 hours/week is overtime. Providers with multiple recipients have a 66-hour weekly cap; with one recipient, the maximum weekly cap is generally 70h 45m (per CDSS). CDSS rules · DRC summary
  • You must balance hours by week. You can’t “bank” extra hours in week 1 and make them up in week 2 without county approval; recipients have maximum weekly hours derived from monthly totals. UDW timesheet guide
  • Travel time (between different clients on the same day) is payable up to 7 hours/week and is claimed separately from work hours (separate travel claim). Alameda PA: Travel claim · Orange PA · Travel claim how-to (PDF)
  • Violations & penalties (SOC 2255): Exceeding weekly caps or claiming >7h travel triggers violations that escalate: 1) warning; 2) training offer (avoid 2nd violation if completed); 3) 3-month suspension; 4) 1-year termination. SOC 2255 · ACL 16-36 · Violation explainer
  • Exemptions (limited) can allow up to 90h/week across recipients in specific situations (e.g., live-in family or extraordinary circumstances). CDSS Exemptions

  timesheets, EVV, and the mobile app (with links)

  • Use the Electronic Services Portal (ESP) to submit timesheets, view pay status, set up direct deposit, and more: etimesheets.ihss.ca.gov. Your in-depth guide: The ways of the Electronic Services Portal
  • EVV (Electronic Visit Verification) requires recording start/end and location at check-in/out. Non-live-in providers can use the free IHSS EVV Mobile App or ESP. App links: iOS · Android. EVV help: CDSS EVV help · EVV walkthrough (PDF)
  • Telephone Timesheet System (TTS) is available if you can’t use ESP/app (check local details). LA County overview

  who can be the caregiver?

  • Family, friends, or community caregivers can be paid (all must enroll and pass the background check). CDSS
  • Parents of minors/spouses can often be providers if rules are met; minors as providers are possible in some counties with permits (rare in practice; verify locally). CDSS · Napa FAQ

  unions, training & supports

  • Most counties are represented by SEIU Local 2015 or UDW/AFSCME 3930 for bargaining. Membership is optional (per the U.S. Supreme Court’s Harris v. Quinn decision). Harris v. Quinn
  • Many Public Authorities offer some free classes; availability varies widely by county (ask your PA). CAPA directory

  extra: quick clarifications you asked us to cover

  • Employer name? The recipient (or their authorized representative) is the employer for IHSS purposes. SOC 426A
  • Employment verification? Counties use the IHSS 0177 Employment & Wage Verification process; allow ~7–10 business days (varies by county). Check your county PA site for their request instructions.
  • License required? No CNA/HHA required for IHSS. Paramedical services require a clinician’s order and training (SOC 321). CDSS module
  • Hospitalizations? IHSS is not payable while the recipient is admitted; services resume when they return home. CDSS

  resources for community caregivers (official)

  • CDSS Provider Orientation
  • Forms: SOC 426 · SOC 846/847 · SOC 2255
  • DOJ Live Scan Locations
  • ESP: etimesheets.ihss.ca.gov · Your guide: awesomeluck.com/…/esp · EVV App: iOS | Android
  • Wages by county: IHSSAdvocate
  • Unions: SEIU Local 2015 · UDW/AFSCME 3930
  • County Public Authorities (registries): CAPA directory
  • Legal/helpful explainers: DRC IHSS publications