IHSS Protective Supervision Readiness Estimator
Answer 8 plain-English questions to get a personalized preparation plan — the areas to focus on and the real records to organize before your county assessment. This is educational preparation support, not an eligibility decision.
Before you start
Is the person receiving IHSS under 18 years old?
One question only applies to minor recipients. This tells us whether to include it.
Core Factors (Q1–Q5)
These five questions map to the criteria in CDSS MPP 30-757.17 and WIC 12301.21. Answer based on the person's typical day — not their best day.
Q1
Does the person have a diagnosed mental impairment or mental illness?
Examples: dementia, autism, intellectual disability, traumatic brain injury. A physical-only condition (like a mobility impairment) does not qualify.
Q2
Because of that condition, do they have trouble with memory, knowing where they are, or judgment — enough that they can't reliably recognize danger or keep themselves safe?
This is about whether the mental impairment affects their safety awareness — not just their ability to do daily tasks.
Q3
Is the person physically able to move into dangerous situations — like walking somewhere unsafe, wandering outside, or reaching hazardous items?
The county weighs whether the person can physically access danger. This makes active supervision necessary.
Q4
Do they do things that could cause injury — like leaving home unsafely, using the stove or water unsupervised, handling sharp objects, or touching electrical hazards?
Specific, documented examples of dangerous behaviors are the most important evidence in a PS assessment.
Q5
Do they need someone watching over them or available to step in essentially around the clock to stay safe at home?
This includes nighttime hours for live-in providers. 283-hour authorizations typically reflect around-the-clock need.
Three things to check
These sort out what PS is and isn't authorized for. Medical monitoring and aggression toward other people are not a basis for PS (MPP 30-757.172); self-harm depends on whether the person can understand the danger.
Q7
Is the main reason for supervision to watch for a medical emergency — like a seizure, breathing problem, or other health crisis — and little else?
Supervision required because of a medical condition, or solely to anticipate a medical emergency, is outside Protective Supervision — other IHSS or health-care services may apply depending on the facts. PS covers supervision to prevent injury from unsafe behaviors, not to detect a medical episode.
Q8
Does the person have aggressive or antisocial behavior directed at harming other people?
Aggression toward other people is not a basis for PS on its own. If the person also has separately qualifying conduct — like wandering they can't judge the danger of — whether PS still applies is something published CDSS guidance does not settle. Only your county can decide that.
Q9
If the person does things that could harm themselves, why?
Self-harm that happens because the person can't grasp the danger (like head-banging as a manifestation of their impairment) can support PS. Deliberate, knowing self-harm is not a basis on its own — but it does not rule the person out if they qualify on the factors above.
Answer all questions above to build your preparation plan.
About this estimator
The questions and criteria in this tool are based on CDSS Regulations — specifically MPP 30-757.17 (Protective Supervision), WIC 12301.21 (authorization), and the SOC 821 assessment form. This tool does not store, transmit, or share any information you enter.
Only your county IHSS office — through a home assessment — can authorize Protective Supervision. Requesting an assessment is always free and always your right. If your request is denied, you have 90 days to appeal.
Know your hours — plan your schedule
Once PS is authorized, use the free IHSS Planner to build a compliant schedule and see your estimated monthly earnings.
Launch Planner