IHSS Provider Paid Sick Leave Frequently Asked Questions (Faqs)
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IHSS Provider Paid Sick Leave Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 1. How much paid sick leave can I earn? Beginning July 1, 2018, you will be able to accrue up to eight (8) hours of paid sick leave for each year, calendar year, or twelve-month period of employment. Note: The State Fiscal Year is July 1 – June 30. 2. When will I start to earn paid sick leave? A. If you were an active provider before July 1, 2018, you will earn the eight (8) hours of paid sick leave after you have worked a total of 100 hours from July 1, 2018. B. If you are a new provider, that is, you started working after July 1, 2018, you will earn the eight (8) hours of paid sick leave after you have worked a total of 100 hours from your initial hire date. 3. How will I know when I have worked 100 hours? Once you are eligible for paid sick leave, your paid sick leave balance will appear on your pay warrant. The amount of paid sick leave hours earned, available for usage, and previously used hours will also be noted on your pay warrant. You can also access your payment information and paid sick leave balances online using the Electronic Portal System (EPS). To register to the online portal, visit: https://www.etimesheets.ihss.ca.gov. If you have additional questions about creating or accessing an account, contact the ESP Help Desk at: 1-866-376-7066 (select option 4). 4. When can I start using my paid sick leave hours? From the initial date that you earned your paid sick leave hours, you must either: a) work an additional 200 hours providing services to an IHSS recipient, or b) 60 calendar days from the date on which you earned your paid sick leave hours. You can find your sick leave balance, available hours and used hours all on your pay warrant. 5. How do I request paid sick leave? You must complete the IHSS Program Provider Sick Leave Request Form (SOC 2302). You must include your name and provider number, the dates and times of the paid sick leave, and the provider’s signature. You are responsible for submitting the completed SOC 2302 to Enterprise Services (ES): Sick Leave Processing Center P.O. Box 1700 West Sacramento, CA 95691 IHSS Provider Paid Sick Leave FAQs, NEW, 7/23/18 6. Where can I find the Provider Sick Leave Request Form (SOC 2302)? CDSS website IHSS office Mail or e-mail (by request only) Online (NEW!) - Providers can now submit the online Paid Sick Leave request. TO SET UP AN ACCOUNT TO BEGIN CLAIMING SICK LEAVE TIME, VISIT: https://www.etimesheets.ihss.ca.gov. Select the “New User Registration” link, and follow the online prompts. ** If you need help, please call the ESP Help Desk at 1-866-376-7066 (select Option 4) ** 7. How many paid sick leave hours may I request at one time? The minimum increment for paid sick leave is one (1) hour, and additional paid sick leave hours can be added in increments of 30 minutes. 8. Do I have to include the reason for my use of paid sick leave hours? No, you are not required to disclose the specific reason on the SOC 2302. 9. Can a Provider claim sick leave when a Recipient is on Leave (i.e., Hospitalized, on vacation)? No, sick leave hours may not be claimed when a Recipient case is on Leave for whatever reason. 10. When should I submit the SOC 2302? You should submit the completed SOC 2302 before the end of the pay period in which you used the paid sick leave time. However, if you use paid sick leave on or before the final day of the pay period, you should submit the SOC 2302 by the end of the next pay period. For example: If the sick leave occurs September 23rd, the form can be entered up to October 31st. Important note: If the SOC 2302 is not submitted on time, your sick leave payment will be delayed. 11. How will I know that I received payment for the sick leave hours? You will receive a separate supplemental pay warrant for that period for your sick leave wages. 12. Will my paid sick leave hours affect the recipient’s monthly authorized hours? No, these balances are separate. Paid sick leave hours do not affect the recipient’s authorized hours. 13. Can I receive sick leave compensation at the overtime rate? No, sick leave is paid at the county wage rate associated with the recipient case for which the claim is being made. Sick leave is not eligible for to be paid at an overtime rate. 14. Will there be deductions taken from the sick leave payments? Only State and Federal taxes will be taken out. Sick Leave payments are excluded from FICA and Medicare taxes. However, if a Live-in-Self Certification Form (SOC 2298) has been processed for the provider, the income will be excluded from income taxation. Refer to IHSS Newsletter 16-02 for more information. IHSS Provider Paid Sick Leave FAQs, NEW, 7/23/18 15. If I do not use all of my paid sick leave hours at the end of the fiscal year, will I be able to add them to the next year? No, you will lose any unused paid sick leave hours for that fiscal year and start the accrual process once again at the beginning of the next year. There are no rollover paid sick leave hours. 16. What if I need more sick leave hours than I have remaining? The IHSS program only compensates providers for the number of sick leave hours they are allowed to accrue per fiscal year. 17. If I was an IHSS provider before, but then I stopped working for my recipient, will I be paid for my unused sick leave hours? The IHSS program is not required to provide wage compensation to a provider for any accrued or unused paid sick leave upon the provider’s termination, resignation, retirement or other separation from employment. However, if you are rehired within one (1) year from the date of separation, your previously accrued or unused sick leave hours will be restored to you. 18. What should I do if my sick leave payment (warrant) is lost, stolen or destroyed? Please contact the IHSS Payroll Unit at: (510) 577-1877 immediately to initiate the process for “stop payment”. You will receive further instructions during the call. IHSS Provider Paid Sick Leave FAQs, NEW, 7/23/18 .