Is the check in the mail? Delays plague state-issued paychecks for home care workers

Senate oversight hearing Nov. 1 at LA City Hall to look into IHSS time card delays

Monday, October 31, 2016

Sacramento, CA – The State of California’s payment processing system - responsible for paying hundreds of thousands of caregivers each month  –  has experienced significant failures and delays of payment to some of the hardest working, lowest paid employees each month for several years.

Approximately 14,000 In-Home Support Service workers time sheets are rejected by the State of California’s payment system every month resulting in devastating delays of the providers’ monthly paycheck.

In the June of 2016 payroll process, about 10,000 paychecks were delayed by up to ten working days. Almost 400 provider paychecks were delayed up to 30 working days. 

TOMORROW, Tuesday, Nov. 1 at Los Angeles City Hall, Senator Mike McGuire will chair the Senate Human Services Committee oversight hearing focused on the state’s payroll practices for IHSS workers.

“For years, the state has been hearing complaints that state-issued paychecks are often delayed for days or weeks in the In Home Support System and it’s time for this irresponsible practice to stop,” Senator McGuire said. “California must step up and fix the payroll system to ensure these hard working caregivers who support hundreds of thousands of seniors and people with disabilities are paid on time and accurately.”

There are approximately 500,000 IHSS providers statewide, who care for about 400,000 elderly and disabled individuals, enabling them to remain living at home. Eighty percent of caregivers in California are women.

Here are the Oversight Hearing Details:

WHAT:  Senate Human Services Oversight Hearing “The Check is in the Mail: The State’s cumbersome IHSS Payroll Process is Unresponsive to Needs of IHSS Providers and Recipients”

WHEN:  TOMORROW, Tuesday, Nov. 1 from 9:30 am to noon

WHERE: Los Angeles City Hall, Board of Public Works hearing room

WHO: Panels will include testimony from state and local agencies charged with overseeing the IHSS system, as well as providers who have experienced rejected or delayed time cards and the effects of those delays.

Watch live: www.Senate.Ca.Gov

Senator McGuire is chair of the Senate Human Services Committee. Senator Connie Leyva (D-Chino), Senator Carol Liu (D-La Canada Flintridge) and Senator Richard Roth (D-Riverside) are scheduled to be in attendance.

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