Free Help for Healthcare Workers — Find a Lawyer or Insurance in Any State, Plus IHSS Benefits, Wages and Rights for California Caregivers
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500K+
CA Caregivers Served
$18.65
State Min. Wage
58
CA Counties Covered
Free legal help
Do you need a lawyer, and what kind?
Most people never find out that they had a claim until the deadline has gone, and some of those deadlines are five days. Tell us what is happening and we will point you at the right kind of attorney for it, in any state, at no cost.
Unified Savers is not a law firm and not a lawyer referral service. We give no legal advice.
Free — IHSS is a California programme
Get Your Free IHSS Eligibility Check →
Not sure what you qualify for? Answer three questions and see what the rules say about your situation, in about thirty seconds.
Free · No obligation · Results in about 30 seconds
Sourced from CDSS publications · Updated twice weekly · 100% Free · No spam
Rights Spotlight
What Every IHSS Caregiver Must Know About Their Rights
Overtime Pay for IHSS Caregivers
You are entitled to 1.5× your hourly rate after 9 hours in a day or 40 hours in a week. Many IHSS employers illegally deny this. Keep a time log.
Sick Leave Rights
California law guarantees you at least 40 hours (5 days) of paid sick leave per year. You can use it for your own illness or a family member's.
Travel Time Between Clients
If you travel between two or more clients in the same day, that travel time must be paid at your regular rate. Agencies cannot deduct it.
IHSS Wage Theft Protections
If you are paid late, paid less than agreed, or have deductions taken without consent — that is wage theft. You can file a claim with the CA Labor Commissioner at no cost.
Report Wage Theft — Free, No Immigration Check
Call the CA Labor Commissioner's free wage theft hotline. No cost. No immigration status required.
1-844-522-6734
Wage Watch
Are You Being Paid the Right IHSS Caregiver Rate?
California's minimum wage is $18.65/hour as of 2025. But your county may pay more — and some counties have IHSS-specific supplemental wages on top of state minimums. If you work in Los Angeles, San Francisco, or other high-cost counties, your rate may be higher.
$18.65+
Los Angeles
$18.67+
San Francisco
$18.65+
Alameda
$18.65+
San Diego
Am I Being Underpaid as an IHSS Provider?
Enter your hours, county, and rate. We'll calculate what you should have been paid — including overtime — and flag any gap.
Open IHSS wage calculator →Free IHSS Benefits Eligibility Check
Answer 3 questions. Find out which free programs — Medi-Cal, CalFresh, Lifeline, VITA, CARE — you qualify for right now.
Check my IHSS benefits →Free IHSS Benefits
IHSS Enrollment Benefits — What You Qualify For at No Cost
Most IHSS home care providers qualify for several state and federal programs. Here's what to apply for today.
Medi-Cal
Most IHSS workers qualify based on income.
Free health insurance — doctor visits, prescriptions, dental, mental health.
Apply at coveredca.gov or your county DPSS office.
CalFresh (EBT / Food Stamps)
Single adults earning under ~$2,005/month qualify.
Monthly grocery benefits loaded onto a debit card — average $200+/month.
Apply at getcalfresh.org (takes 10 minutes online).
VITA Free Tax Prep
Anyone earning under $67,000/year.
IRS-certified volunteers file your taxes for free, including Earned Income Tax Credit (worth up to $7,430).
Find a site at irs.gov/vita or call 211.
Lifeline Phone Discount
Medi-Cal or CalFresh recipients automatically qualify.
Free or $0/month cell phone service.
Apply at lifelinesupport.org.
CARE Utility Discount
Medi-Cal or CalFresh recipients.
20–35% off your monthly electric and gas bill.
Call your utility provider or visit cpuc.ca.gov/care.
SEIU 2015 Member Benefits
All IHSS providers — you are already a union member.
Free legal aid, training, scholarships, and worker support services.
Call SEIU 2015 at 1-855-810-2015.
Weekly IHSS News
What's Happening in Sacramento & Your County
Navigating the IHSS Landscape: What Every Caregiver in Los Angeles Needs to Know
A plain-language walkthrough of the IHSS system — how to get paid, what to document, and who to contact when something goes wrong.
Avoiding Caregiver Burnout: Essential Tips for IHSS Workers
Caregivers are among the most at-risk workers for burnout. Here's how to protect your mental health while still showing up for the people who depend on you.
Must-Know Resources & Exclusive Discounts for IHSS Workers
From free legal aid to grocery benefits — a full roundup of programs California caregivers can access right now, at no cost.
Latest IHSS California news
Minimum Wage Jumps to $17.40 in California for 2027 — Here's What Your 'Raise' Really Buys
California's minimum wage climbs to $17.40 an hour on January 1, 2027, as Washington, Connecticut, New Jersey and Michigan hike theirs too. But with unemployment above the national rate and businesses cutting shifts and closing doors, workers are getting a bigger number on a shrinking paycheck.
Newsom Signs $19.75 Farmworker Minimum Wage for 2027 — Your Grocery Bill Is About to Show It
Governor Newsom signed AB 2646 this week, setting a $19.75-an-hour minimum wage for California farmworkers starting January 1, 2027. Farm groups say it adds hundreds of millions in costs — and will push food prices higher.
Pentagon Purge: Hegseth Fires One in Five Generals and Admirals
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed 20% of America's generals and admirals are gone — fired outright or eliminated — in a 'warrior ethos' overhaul announced at Quantico.
Helping a Parent With Money Without Creating a New Problem: Joint Accounts, Authorised Signers, Trusted Contacts and View-Only Access in California
When a parent starts missing bills, the quickest fix is usually to add a child to the bank account. In California that can change who inherits the money, expose it to the child's creditors and affect SSI or Medi-Cal. Here are the less obvious tools, from view-only access and a trusted contact person to an agent under a power of attorney and a representative payee, what each one actually does, and the order most families should try them in.
Deals & Discounts
Exclusive Savings for California Home Care Workers
Programs and discounts available specifically to California IHSS caregivers and home care providers.
Services
- ✓Free legal aid — SEIU 2015
- ✓Financial counseling — CDSS
- ✓Free tax prep — VITA
- ✓Worker's comp support
- ✓Mental health access
Travel
- ✓Transit discounts — CalACT
- ✓Mileage reimbursement
- ✓Reduced-fare bus passes
- ✓Caregiver car insurance
- ✓Ride-share credits
Products
- ✓CalFresh / EBT groceries
- ✓Medical supply programs
- ✓Free PPE — SEIU
- ✓Lifeline phone plan
- ✓CARE utility discount
Report & Get Help
Who to Call When Something Goes Wrong
Every number below is free. Immigration status is never a barrier to filing a complaint in California.
CA Labor Commissioner
Unpaid wages, overtime violations, illegal deductions
1-844-522-6734
SEIU 2015
Union support, legal aid, workplace problems
1-855-810-2015
IHSS Fraud Hotline
Report fraud by providers, recipients, or agencies
1-800-822-6222
Legal Aid at Work
Free legal help for low-income workers
1-415-864-8848
CA Dept of Social Services
IHSS program questions, recipient issues
1-916-651-8848
211 CA Helpline
Benefits, housing, food — connect to local services
Dial 2-1-1
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Get Your Free IHSS Eligibility Check Today
The free checker walks you through the benefits you may qualify for — Medi-Cal, CalFresh, overtime pay and more. It runs in your browser, and there is nothing to sign up for.
No sign-up · runs in your browser · results in 30 seconds
Sourced from CDSS and SEIU 2015 publications · Updated twice weekly
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