Paper paychecks are going away in 2021 – make the switch today! 

Ever wait days or weeks for your IHSS paycheck to arrive? Many of us have, and late paychecks can cause all kinds of trouble. But by switching to direct deposit, not only do we avoid paper paycheck delays, we also receive our IHSS pay up to three days faster, straight to our bank accounts or our prepaid debit cards.

And soon, the State of California is going to require all IHSS providers to receive our pay via direct deposit or payroll card. The new rule was written into this year’s budget, which was passed and signed by the governor in June. Mandatory IHSS electronic payment will go into effect on July 1, 2021. If you’re already on direct deposit, good news! You don’t need to do anything. But if you aren’t, you should begin planning for the change now.

Here are your options for setting up IHSS direct deposit:

1. Have your IHSS pay deposited into your bank account.
   If you have a bank account, the switch to direct deposit is easy. Either go to the state’s webpage at http://bit.ly/IHSSdirectdeposit and sign up directly, download and fill out the SOC 829 at www.cdss.ca.gov, or call (866) 376-7066, option #2 to request the SOC 829 form be mailed to you.
2. Have your IHSS pay deposited on to your UDW prepaid card
   Don’t have a bank account? No problem! The UDW U.S. Bank Focus CardTM is an exclusive benefit for UDW members and it’s free to sign up. The prepaid debit card features low fees and can be used anywhere debit Mastercard is accepted. Find out more at www.udwa.org/prepaidcard.

   “The Focus Card is awesome! I went to US Bank and used the ATM and they didn’t charge me a fee. I get the text alerts on my phone, so anytime I use my card it will tell me what I spend and what I have left. The signup process was easy – I did everything right away and I didn’t have to call anybody for any information. And I received my check at least three business days faster than when I was receiving paper checks!” – Dametrie Williams, caregiver, Riverside County

3. Use a payroll card from the state
   The new law requires the state to come up with a payroll card for providers to use. It’s not ready yet, but it will be before the July 1, 2021 deadline. We will keep you updated on its progress.

You can find out more about direct deposit, the UDW U.S. Bank Focus Card, or any other questions you may have about IHSS and your union member benefits. Check out the UDW website at www.udwa.org/directdeposit or call the UDW Member Benefits Center at 1-800-621-5016.

Don’t wait until the last minute to make the switch to direct deposit. You’ll be glad you did!