IHSS Timesheets and Payroll Rules 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under the IHSS Electronic Services Portal (ESP), what is the deadline for a recipient to approve a provider's submitted electronic timesheet?
- Within 24 hours of submission
- By midnight on the last day of the pay period (Correct answer)
- Within 3 business days
- Before the next pay period begins
Correct answer: By midnight on the last day of the pay period
Recipients must approve electronic timesheets by midnight on the last day of the pay period to ensure timely payment.
Question 2: What is the IHSS rule regarding providers being paid for 'travel time' between two recipients' homes on the same day?
- Travel time is always compensable (Correct answer)
- Travel time is not compensable under IHSS rules
- Travel time is paid only if it exceeds 30 minutes
- Travel time is compensable only for live-in providers
Correct answer: Travel time is always compensable
IHSS providers who travel directly between two recipients on the same day are entitled to compensation for that travel time.
Question 3: If an IHSS provider is also a provider for a family member recipient, which payroll limitation applies?
- They cannot be paid at all
- Their hours are capped at 40 per week regardless of recipients
- They cannot claim overtime for family member recipients (Correct answer)
- There is no limitation; normal rules apply
Correct answer: They cannot claim overtime for family member recipients
The FLSA domestic service companionship exemption means providers cannot claim overtime when providing services to a family member recipient.
Question 4: What payroll document must IHSS providers receive from their employer of record each January for tax filing purposes?
- Form 1099-NEC
- Form W-2 (Correct answer)
- Form W-4
- Form 1040-ES
Correct answer: Form W-2
IHSS providers are classified as employees and receive a W-2 wage statement each January from their employer of record (the county or CDSS).
Question 5: When a provider takes a sick day, how should this time be reflected on the IHSS timesheet?
- It should be recorded as regular hours worked
- It should not be recorded on the timesheet — sick leave is tracked separately (Correct answer)
- It should be listed as overtime hours
- It should be recorded with a special sick leave code
Correct answer: It should not be recorded on the timesheet — sick leave is tracked separately
Sick leave is tracked separately from the timesheet; only actual hours of service provided are recorded on IHSS timesheets.
Question 6: Under California IHSS payroll rules, when does a provider's workweek officially begin?
- Sunday at 12:00 AM (Correct answer)
- Monday at 12:00 AM
- The first day of the pay period
- It varies by county
Correct answer: Sunday at 12:00 AM
The IHSS workweek begins at 12:01 AM on Sunday and ends at midnight the following Saturday for overtime calculation purposes.
Question 7: If an IHSS recipient is hospitalized, how should the provider record hours during the recipient's hospital stay?
- Record hours as normal since the job continues
- Do not record any hours — IHSS services cannot be provided during hospitalization (Correct answer)
- Record hours only for transportation services
- Record half of normal hours
Correct answer: Do not record any hours — IHSS services cannot be provided during hospitalization
IHSS services cannot be provided while a recipient is hospitalized, so no hours may be claimed during that period.
IHSS Timesheets and Payroll Rules 3
Under the IHSS Electronic Services Portal (ESP), what is the deadline for a recipient to approve a provider's submitted electronic timesheet?