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IHSS Provider

How to enter your hours in ESP if you do not live with the recipient

10 stepsCDSS 10/2026

Independent guide based on official CDSS documents. Not affiliated with CDSS, the State of California or any county.

This guide is for providers who do not live with the recipient. For each workday, you complete your hours and minutes plus the start and end time and location (EVV). Then you submit the timesheet for your recipient to review. You are paid for hours worked, not the time between check-in and check-out.

Screens may look slightly different today.

  • Log in

    Step 1: The ESP login screen with the User Name box and the Continue button.
    CDSS screen, ESP Non-Live-In Provider Time Entry, 10/2026

    Enter your username and click Continue. Choose how to get your 6-digit one-time passcode, then enter it.

    Button to click on the screen:Continue

    The passcode expires after 10 minutes. If it did not arrive or it expired, click Resend Passcode.

  • Open your timesheet

    Step 2: The ESP main page with the Timesheet Entry link and the blue arrow next to the recipient.
    CDSS screen, ESP Non-Live-In Provider Time Entry, 10/2026

    On the main page, click Timesheet Entry. You can also click the blue arrow next to the recipient's name.

    Button to click on the screen:Timesheet Entry

  • Choose your recipient

    Step 3: The Recipient Selection screen with the blue arrow on the right and the most recent payment details.
    CDSS screen, ESP Non-Live-In Provider Time Entry, 10/2026

    Click the blue arrow on the right side next to the recipient's name. If you have more than one recipient, pick the one you are entering hours for.

    Button to click on the screen:Blue arrow

  • Say that you do not live with them

    Step 4: The Action Required pop-up asking if you lived with the recipient during the pay period.
    CDSS screen, ESP Non-Live-In Provider Time Entry, 10/2026

    A pop-up called Action Required asks if you lived with your recipient. If you did not, click No.

    Button to click on the screen:No

    You see this question if you have not turned in form SOC 2298. It appears the first time you open a timesheet for a pay period.

  • Choose the pay period

    Step 5: The Timesheet Entry screen with the Pay Period drop-down box and the workweeks.
    CDSS screen, ESP Non-Live-In Provider Time Entry, 10/2026

    Use the drop-down box on the left to pick the pay period. You see the timesheet number, its status and the available hours.

    Button to click on the screen:Pay Period - Payment Type

    You may see more than one timesheet if you work for both WPCS and IHSS, or if you have not submitted earlier pay periods.

  • Open a workweek

    Step 6: The Timesheet Entry screen with an arrow pointing to the drop-down arrow beside Workweek 1.
    CDSS screen, ESP Non-Live-In Provider Time Entry, 10/2026

    Click the drop-down arrow next to the workweek you want. Each day then shows on its own.

    Button to click on the screen:Workweek 1

  • Complete each workday

    Step 7: An open workweek with Hours, Minutes, Start and End Time and Location boxes for each day.
    CDSS screen, ESP Non-Live-In Provider Time Entry, 10/2026

    Fill in Hours, Minutes, Start Time, Start Location, End Time and End Location for each day. For a location, choose Home or Community.

    Button to click on the screen:Start Location / End Location

    Check-in and check-out information from the ESP or the IHSS EVV Mobile App fills in on your timesheet for you.

  • Save the workweek

    Step 8: A saved workweek with the Save button and the Workweek Total shown below the days.
    CDSS screen, ESP Non-Live-In Provider Time Entry, 10/2026

    Click Save. The Workweek Total updates. Do the same for each workweek.

    Button to click on the screen:Save

    You get a message if hours worked are greater than the time at the location.

  • Submit your timesheet

    Step 9: A completed workweek with Save, the Timesheet Total and an arrow pointing to Submit Timesheet.
    CDSS screen, ESP Non-Live-In Provider Time Entry, 10/2026

    When all your hours are entered and correct, click Submit Timesheet.

    Button to click on the screen:Submit Timesheet

    If you submit before the end of a pay period, a message says the timesheet will be processed on the first business day of the upcoming pay period.

  • Sign and send to your recipient

    Step 10: The Electronic Signature screen with the Agree to Terms box and the sign and submit button.
    CDSS screen, ESP Non-Live-In Provider Time Entry, 10/2026

    Read the declaration and check the Agree to Terms box. Then click Electronically Sign Timesheet & Submit for Recipient Review.

    Button to click on the screen:Electronically Sign Timesheet & Submit for Recipient Review

    Changed your mind or made a mistake? Click Cancel Submit and make your changes.

Step 1

All steps in one list

  1. 1. Log in

    Enter your username and click Continue. Choose how to get your 6-digit one-time passcode, then enter it.

    The passcode expires after 10 minutes. If it did not arrive or it expired, click Resend Passcode.

    Source: CDSS ESP Non-Live-In Provider Time Entry, 10/2026, page 2

  2. 2. Open your timesheet

    On the main page, click Timesheet Entry. You can also click the blue arrow next to the recipient's name.

    Source: CDSS ESP Non-Live-In Provider Time Entry, 10/2026, page 3

  3. 3. Choose your recipient

    Click the blue arrow on the right side next to the recipient's name. If you have more than one recipient, pick the one you are entering hours for.

    Source: CDSS ESP Non-Live-In Provider Time Entry, 10/2026, page 4

  4. 4. Say that you do not live with them

    A pop-up called Action Required asks if you lived with your recipient. If you did not, click No.

    You see this question if you have not turned in form SOC 2298. It appears the first time you open a timesheet for a pay period.

    Source: CDSS ESP Non-Live-In Provider Time Entry, 10/2026, page 5

  5. 5. Choose the pay period

    Use the drop-down box on the left to pick the pay period. You see the timesheet number, its status and the available hours.

    You may see more than one timesheet if you work for both WPCS and IHSS, or if you have not submitted earlier pay periods.

    Source: CDSS ESP Non-Live-In Provider Time Entry, 10/2026, page 6

  6. 6. Open a workweek

    Click the drop-down arrow next to the workweek you want. Each day then shows on its own.

    Source: CDSS ESP Non-Live-In Provider Time Entry, 10/2026, page 7

  7. 7. Complete each workday

    Fill in Hours, Minutes, Start Time, Start Location, End Time and End Location for each day. For a location, choose Home or Community.

    Check-in and check-out information from the ESP or the IHSS EVV Mobile App fills in on your timesheet for you.

    Source: CDSS ESP Non-Live-In Provider Time Entry, 10/2026, page 10

  8. 8. Save the workweek

    Click Save. The Workweek Total updates. Do the same for each workweek.

    You get a message if hours worked are greater than the time at the location.

    Source: CDSS ESP Non-Live-In Provider Time Entry, 10/2026, page 10

  9. 9. Submit your timesheet

    When all your hours are entered and correct, click Submit Timesheet.

    If you submit before the end of a pay period, a message says the timesheet will be processed on the first business day of the upcoming pay period.

    Source: CDSS ESP Non-Live-In Provider Time Entry, 10/2026, page 12

  10. 10. Sign and send to your recipient

    Read the declaration and check the Agree to Terms box. Then click Electronically Sign Timesheet & Submit for Recipient Review.

    Changed your mind or made a mistake? Click Cancel Submit and make your changes.

    Source: CDSS ESP Non-Live-In Provider Time Entry, 10/2026, page 13

Submitted your timesheet? Here is what happens next

  1. 3

    Recipient approves The recipient reviews the hours and approves or rejects the timesheet

  2. 4

    The state processes and pays A complete timesheet turned in on time is usually paid within 10 days of when the state receives it (SOC 846)

  3. 5

    What comes next? Where is my pay, direct deposit, taxes, paid sick leave

Get the official guide

Official CDSS guide (PDF)

Is this your guide?

Non-live-in providers do not live in the same household as the recipient they work for, and have not self-certified as live-in. You must complete these fields on your timesheet: Start Time, Start Location, End Time, End Location and Hours Worked.

What each field means

  • Hours Worked: the hours and minutes you worked that day.
  • Start Time: the time you begin providing services that day.
  • Start Location: where the first service is provided that day (your check-in location).
  • End Time: the time the last service is completed that day.
  • End Location: where the last service is completed that day (your check-out location).

Home or Community

  • Home: services were provided in the recipient's home.
  • Community: services were provided outside of the recipient's home.

You are paid for hours worked

Providers are paid for hours worked, not the time between check-in and check-out. Check-in and check-out information from the ESP or the IHSS EVV Mobile App fills in on your electronic timesheet. You can update and correct your timesheet before you submit it.

Messages you may see

All fields need an entry for each day you enter. The portal shows a message if you make an error. For example: "Hours entry cannot be greater than 24," "Minutes entry cannot be greater than 59," or "Hours worked cannot be greater than time at location." Click Save after each workweek.

Submitting early

If you submit before the end of a pay period, a pop-up message says the timesheet will be processed on the first business day of the upcoming pay period.

If you find a mistake after you submit

You may still be able to fix it if your recipient has not approved the timesheet yet. Ask your recipient to reject the timesheet for that pay period. You then get an email saying you can update and send it again online.

Source: ESP Non-Live-In Provider Time Entry, Revised 10/2026.

Related guides

CDSS: ESP Non-Live-In Provider Time Entry, 10/2026