When a consumer calls the Registry at the Public Authority, one of our bilingual support services counselors will conduct a short interview to assess the consumer's needs and preferences. Using a computer program, the support services counselor matches consumers with workers according to location, language, the domestic or personal care needed, work schedule, and other job-related preferences.

Each consumer is sent a list of 6-9 workers. A few days later, a registry counselor calls to check on progress and offer additional support. If needed, IHSS consumers are offered advice on hiring and setting up interviews with available workers. Additional lists are sent to consumers who cannot locate workers from initial lists, and telephone follow-up is conducted until a worker is found or the consumer no longer wants assistance.

Public Authority Registry services are free to all IHSS consumers. Home care consumers who are not eligible for IHSS services can receive lists by paying a fee. The amount of the fee is based on the person's monthly income and ranges between no charge and $200 for up to four lists during a three-month period.

Registry staff members provide IHSS consumers and workers with support, information and referrals and help to resolve differences amongst consumers, workers, and/or the Department of Aging & Adult Services (DAAS).

The consumer, not the Registry, is the employer who will interview, hire, and supervise the worker who is chosen from the referral list.

The Registry:

• Recruits workers for registration on the Registry database
• Screens applicants for positive references and other requirements
• Provides worker lists to all consumers who request referrals. The lists are tailor-made by computer to match the needs, preferences, and preferred schedule of both the consumer and the worker
• Provides support and follow-up to IHSS consumers who need help with using IHSS or finding workers
• Helps arrange training for IHSS consumers and workers
• Maintains a working relationship with DAAS

Consumers can reach the Registry Monday-Friday, 8:30-5:00 by calling (415) 243-4477.

If you need assistance to keep living at home and are low-income, contact the city's Department of Aging & Adult Services (DAAS) to see if you are eligible for In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS). The IHSS intake telephone number is: 415 557-5251. If IHSS hours have already been authorized for you, the Central Registry can assist you in finding a home care worker.

The worker can help you with household tasks such as cooking, house cleaning, laundry, shopping, or with personal care such as bathing, dressing, and toileting. These home care workers are also known as attendants, personal assistance workers, home health aides, or independent providers.

IHSS Consumer responsibilities:

• Calling workers on the referral list, setting up interviews, checking references and hiring workers
• Calling DAAS to request worker enrollment forms once you have hired the worker
• Working out an agreement with the worker on the hours and tasks
• Training, supervising and, if necessary, firing the worker
• Completing and submitting IHSS timesheets

The following fees are charged for up to four lists of workers during a three-month period:

• Free if income (including that of spouse or domestic partner) is less than $1000 per month
• $15 if income is between $1001 and $1500 per month
• $40 if income is between $1501 and $3000 per month
• $100 if income is between $3001 and $5000 per month
• $200 if income is over $5000 per month

After four lists or after three months, another fee must be paid for additional lists.

Other services of the IHSS Public Authority, such as assistance hiring, problem-solving, and advocacy services are not available to private pay consumers.

Private pay consumer responsibilities:

• Calling, interviewing, checking references, selecting and hiring the worker
• Negotiating the pay, benefits, work to be performed and schedule with the worker. (Workers expect to be paid at least the current IHSS pay level, which was increased to $11.54 per hour in 2008)
• Training, supervising and, if necessary, firing the worker
• Paying the worker; paying and reporting the legally required employer taxes and withholding. The IRS has a booklet explaining the responsibilities of employers of home care workers
• Following all other legal obligations of an employer

Prospective IHSS workers must come to the Public Authority office on announced dates to pick up an application. Completed applications must include proof of a negative tuberculosis (TB) test taken within the past 10 months and at least 3 references who will recommend you for home care work. References can be a combination of job, school and personal references.

Applicants who have correctly completed the application will be invited for an interview. The following documents must be brought to the interview:

• A valid Social Security card
• Valid picture identification, such as a California photo ID, driver's license or passport

To be accepted on the Registry, workers must also attend a 2-1/2 hour orientation.

To check for the next open application period, call (415) 243-4477.

In 2008, the pay for IHSS workers in San Francisco was increased to $11.54 per hour. The City and County of San Francisco provides medical and dental benefits to eligible IHSS workers. The state of California provides Unemployment, Disability, and Worker's Compensation benefits.

Information & Referral: 1,596
Worker Support Services: 714
Consumer/Worker Matches: 578
Worker Benefits: 188
Worker Orientation: 271
On-Call Requests: 250
Other: 390
TOTAL: 3,987

The "Other" category above includes Worker Training Program inquiries and support and problem-solving for both consumers and their IP's.

In addition to these contacts, Registry staff sent out 2,220 IP referral lists in 2007 from which consumers could hire a worker of their choice. These lists contain the names of six or more possible IP's matched to their needs. (This was an increase of 278 lists or 12.5% from 2006.) Of the lists, 568 (26%) went to new consumers; the other 1,652 (74%) were sent to consumers who had previously used our Registry. We got feedback from 615 consumers this year that they had hired from our lists. The actual number is undoubtedly higher, as we do not hear back from all the consumers we serve.

Of those workers active in the Registry at the end of 2007:

• The majority were female (88%)
• A quarter (25%) were African-American
• 30.3% were Asian/Pacific Islanders
• 10.2% were Caucasian


• 26.8% were Latino
• 6% are Other or Unknown
• The average age was 50