Fresno County In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS)

Fresno County’s In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program helps older, blind, or disabled residents remain in their own homes when they need help with daily activities. It is a public program linked to Medi-Cal and a needs assessment; applying is free. The county line is 559-600-6666, option 1, and the listed mailing address is DSS-IHSS, PO Box 1912, Fresno, CA 93718.

If approved, authorized tasks may include housekeeping, meal preparation and cleanup, laundry, shopping, personal hygiene, dressing, transfers, medication assistance, accompaniment to a medical appointment when combined with other tasks, and protective supervision in certain cases. Families do not select hours and tasks in advance: a social worker assesses functional limitations and home safety, then sends an official determination.

Published requirements include being age 65 or older, blind, or meeting the disability definition; living in Fresno County and in one’s own home; and meeting financial criteria, usually through Medi-Cal or SSI/SSP. A physician must complete a health-care certification. Someone preparing to leave a hospital or facility can contact the county before discharge, but assessment determines whether the home and requested tasks qualify.

Applications can be submitted online, by phone, or with the SOC 295 form in English or Spanish. Documents may be uploaded securely, mailed, faxed, or placed in a DSS office drop box. The county warns that no company should charge a fee to help someone get approved. After applying, a social worker visits the home and reviews the medical certification; the decision notice states approval or denial and, if approved, authorized hours and services.

The East Kings Canyon address is a county service location; applications can also be handled without an in-person visit. Before traveling, confirm whether that site has a drop box, which forms are missing, and how to protect medical information. Report hospitalization, a move, or provider changes because these may affect eligibility and authorized hours.