By the Unified Savers Editorial Team
SEIU 2015, which represents more than 525,000 IHSS home care providers across California, intensified its summer 2026 wage campaign this month, calling on county boards of supervisors to negotiate memoranda of understanding (MOUs) that push hourly IHSS pay to at least $21 per hour — a $4 gap above California’s current $17 statewide minimum wage that union officials say has failed to keep pace with the true cost of living across the state’s most expensive regions.
The campaign comes as contract cycles open in several major IHSS counties simultaneously, giving the union an unusual window to demonstrate statewide momentum. In Los Angeles County — home to more than 200,000 IHSS providers, the largest caseload of any county in the nation — the current IHSS provider rate stands at $19.75 per hour under the county’s existing MOU. SEIU 2015 is seeking an increase to $21.50 by January 2027, with a further step to $23 by 2028.
“Home care workers keep California’s most vulnerable residents out of nursing homes, saving the state billions every year,” said SEIU 2015 President David Huerta in a statement released July 8. “A $21 wage floor isn’t a gift — it’s the minimum that reflects what this work actually costs people to do.”
Sacramento and Riverside at the Front Lines
In Sacramento County, the current IHSS rate is $18.10 per hour — just above the state minimum wage floor. SEIU 2015 is pushing that county to $20.50 by mid-2027. The Sacramento board of supervisors is scheduled to hear testimony from providers at its August 12 meeting, where union representatives plan to bring testimony from workers describing care they’re providing under financial strain — skipping meals, foregoing medical care, working second jobs.
Riverside County is at an earlier stage. Its MOU expired in March 2026, and interim payments have continued at the prior rate of $17.80 per hour while negotiations continue. Union officials say Riverside providers are losing ground in real terms as rental costs in the Inland Empire have climbed more than 14 percent over the past two years.
Why IHSS Wages Are Set by County MOUs
IHSS provider pay is not set by a single statewide contract. Instead, each county negotiates an MOU with SEIU 2015 or its local affiliate. The state pays 65 percent of the negotiated wage above the state minimum through a CDSS matching formula; counties cover the remaining 35 percent. This structure means a wage increase at the county level requires both local political will and available county general fund dollars — which creates wide variation across California’s 58 counties.
Counties with strong local minimum wage ordinances tend to have higher IHSS floors. San Francisco and Berkeley, for example, have IHSS rates above $22 per hour tied to local minimum wage laws. But in Central Valley counties and rural Northern California, IHSS rates often sit within pennies of the state minimum, leaving providers in high-cost agricultural and suburban markets with incomes below self-sufficiency thresholds.
What a Successful Campaign Means for Recipients
Higher IHSS wages reduce provider turnover — a problem that directly harms care recipients. When experienced providers leave for higher-paying work in retail or food service, recipients face disruptions in their care, the risk of hours going unfilled, and the burden of training new providers on personal care needs they may not be comfortable discussing with strangers. Stable wages mean stable care relationships.
Advocates note that the campaign’s success hinges on county budget cycles opening in the fall. Providers in counties currently in active MOU negotiations are encouraged to attend board of supervisors meetings, submit public comment, and connect with their SEIU 2015 regional office to coordinate testimony. The union’s statewide helpline — 1-855-SEI-U215 — can direct providers to local organizing contacts.
Related Resources on Unified Savers:
- IHSS Wage Increases July 2026 — County-by-county July 2026 IHSS rate increases
- IHSS July 2026 Statewide Wage Update — Full breakdown of July 1 wage changes across California
- IHSS Caregiver Rights California — Complete labor rights guide including overtime and sick leave
- IHSS Overtime Rules California — How overtime is calculated for live-in and non-live-in providers
- Federal Medicaid Cuts and IHSS Funding — How federal budget changes could affect future IHSS wages