April 6, 2016
For the last two years, UDW has been urging the state to develop a special exemptions process to ensure that overtime is a great benefit for all IHSS providers and our clients.
We are excited to announce the Extraordinary Circumstances Exemption, designed to help eligible IHSS providers who do not qualify for the Categorical Exemption. This exemption is for providers with two or more clients who need more than 66 hours per week of care combined. Providers who qualify will be allowed to work up to 12 hours per day, up to 360 hours per month combined for all of their IHSS clients.
You may qualify for the Extraordinary Circumstances Exemption if:
IMPORTANT: If #2 and/or #3 apply, you do not have to be a live-in provider to qualify for the exemption. You do not have to be related to your clients to be eligible for this exemption.
If you meet the above qualifications, you may request the Extraordinary Circumstances Exemption by speaking with the county social worker and requesting an “exemption from workweek limits for individuals with extraordinary circumstances.” It is important that you describe how your clients’ situations meets the above criteria.
Once you call and start the process, the county has 15 business days to submit the request to the State Department of Social Services for review. The State then has 15 business days to review and determine approval or denial. During this 30 business day process, you will have a grace period where you are not subject to violations. Be sure to speak with the social worker directly and confirm the start of the grace period to avoid any confusion – a voicemail will not start the process.
If you do not hear from the county social worker within five business days of submitting your request, or if you have been denied the Extraordinary Circumstances Exemption and your client will lose services as a result of the workweek limits, contact UDW at 1-800-621-5016 for assistance.
The Extraordinary Circumstances Exemption is one of three exemptions that we have pushed the state to create in order to ensure overtime is a benefit to all IHSS providers and clients. Follow these links to learn more about the Categorical Exemption and the Waiver Personal Care Services Exemption.
This Labor Day, UDW members from Riverside and Orange Counties rallied alongside union siblings from across Southern California to demand safe staffing at Kaiser Permanente hospitals.
UDW members and leaders joined our parent union, AFSCME, for a stop in San Diego… Read More
Families of four with incomes of up to $96,300 are eligible for subsidized… Read More