Protesting the IHSS State Participation Cap
A Statewide Call to Action
What’s happening
- IHSS wages are jointly funded by the federal government, the State of California, and each county.
- The State Participation Cap means the state will only share costs up to a small amount above the California minimum wage (currently $1.50/hr over).
- If counties want to pay caregivers more, they must cover 100% of the cost above the cap—with no state support.
- SEIU Local 2015 and UDW/AFSCME Local 3930 members have organized rallies in Sacramento, Santa Cruz, Los Angeles, and other counties, demanding the cap be lifted so wages can rise fairly across California.
Why it matters
- The cap locks caregivers into poverty wages in counties that cannot afford to go above it.
- Creates huge disparities: some wealthy counties (like San Francisco) can afford higher wages, while rural or lower-revenue counties can’t.
- Caregiver turnover skyrockets because the work doesn’t pay enough, leaving thousands of IHSS hours unfilled.
- Ultimately, this pushes seniors and people with disabilities into costly institutions, raising taxpayer costs.
What you can do
1. Contact State Representatives
- Governor Gavin Newsom – (916) 445-2841 | Online Form
→ Ask him to support raising or eliminating the state cap in budget negotiations. - Your State Senator (Santa Barbara: Monique Limón, SD-19)
– (916) 651-4021 | senator.limon@senate.ca.gov - Your Assemblymember (Santa Barbara: Gregg Hart, AD-37)
– (916) 319-2037 | assemblymember.hart@assembly.ca.gov |
→ Tell them to back the budget trailer bill language that raises the cap.
2. Pressure Budget Committees
- Senate Budget & Fiscal Review Committee – (Chair Nancy Skinner)
– (916) 651-4103 | senator.skinner@senate.ca.gov
Assembly Budget Committee – (Chair Phil Ting)
– (916) 319-2097 | assemblymember.ting@assembly.ca.gov
→ These committees write the budget rules that set the IHSS state share.
3. Join Union Actions
- UDW Member Resource Center: 1-800-621-5016
- SEIU Local 2015: (855) 810-2015 | info@seiu2015.org
→ Ask about the next rally, testimony dates, or letter-writing campaign.
4. Use Local Media
- Submit letters to the editor of your county newspaper about how the cap hurts both caregivers and clients.
- Share your story publicly—real caregiver voices are the most persuasive.
Helpful Links
Legislative Analyst’s Office – IHSS Wage & Benefit Provisions Explains the 2017–18 changes to the state participation cap and how counties share costs.
Legislative Analyst’s Office – 2024-25 Budget: IHSS Overview of funding growth, wage cost drivers, and the role of the cap in the state budget.
Legislative Analyst’s Office – 2025-26 Budget: IHSS Latest budget analysis showing how costs, wages, and caseloads are trending under the cap.
CSAC – In-Home Supportive Services Issue Page The county association’s perspective on IHSS MOE obligations and wage negotiations.
CWDA – IHSS MOE Hot Topic (2023) Breaks down how the Maintenance of Effort interacts with the state participation cap.
UC Berkeley Labor Center – Statewide IHSS Bargaining Analyzes potential impacts of statewide vs. county-by-county IHSS bargaining.
California State Auditor – Report 2020-109 Details how the state cap functions and how participation changes as minimum wage rises.
Senate Judiciary Committee – AB 283 Analysis Legislative analysis of the IHSS Employer-Employee Relations Act for statewide bargaining.
Fresno County IHSS Authority – 2024 Presentation Local presentation showing how the state cap impacts county wage negotiations.
End the IHSS State Participation Cap
Tell state leaders to lift the cap that keeps caregivers in poverty and creates county-by-county wage gaps.
Instructions
Choose your letter type and a recipient. Enter your name. You can edit the letter to add your story. Click “Send Email” to open your email.
Not in California? You can still email budget leaders and committees to support lifting the cap.
