Who will be affected by the Governor's proposal of 10% Cuts?

• 13,560 IHSS Homebound Seniors and Disabled Children will receive a Reduction of Hours on their In-Home Care.
• 10,130 low income children in 2008-2009 and a total of 18,450 children by 2009-2010 who would lose Medi-Cal coverage due to increased requirements
• 368,080 low-income Medi-Cal recipients who may have reduced access to healthcare services due to payment cuts to health providers
• 89,120 children enrolled in Healthy Families Program (low cost healthcare for low–income working families) would have increased family premiums, increased co-pays, and reduced dental services.
• 7,180 Low income children dropped from the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids Program
• 69,080 low-income seniors and persons with disabilities who would lose the state Cost-Of-Living Adjustment for Supplemental Security Income. (State Supplemental Cash Assistance Grants).
• 930 fewer children enrolled in childcare and preschool due to cuts in programs

UDW sponsored the legislation to get Direct Deposit for home care providers, but Direct Deposit is not administered by your union.  You will get an outreach letter and enrollment form in the mail from the organization who administers Direct Deposit for IHSS.

The California Department of Social Services will be implementing"Provider Direct Deposit" (sometimes referred to as "PDD") on May 1st, 2008.  Direct Deposit is an optional way for home care providers to receive their IHSS paychecks. Direct Deposit is also sometimes called "Electronic Funds Transfer." It is believed that Direct Deposit will provide benefits to providers who participate by eliminating lost and stolen paychecks, as well as the need to redeposit and reissue undeliverable checks. Additionally, Direct Deposit will allow the home care provider faster access to their money by eliminating the postal delivery time necessary to send the check to the provider through the mail.

Those providers who wish to continue to receive their pay checks in the mail do not need to return the Provider Direct Deposit Enrollment/Change/Cancellation form or take any other action. 

Providers who choose to participate in Direct Deposit will have their paychecks deposited directly into their checking or saving account instead of receiving them by mail. Paychecks (also called "Payroll warrants") can be electronically deposited at a bank, savings and loan or credit union. Providers will receive a Direct Deposit Remittance Advice that will contain all the same information providers currently receive on their Statement of Earnings (pay stub) that is attached to the IHSS paycheck. Additionally, a new turn-around timesheet will be attached to each Direct Deposit Remittance Advice, as is the practice with current paychecks.

Providers will receive one Direct Deposit outreach letter and enrollment form for each recipient/provider relationship they maintain. For example, a provider working for four recipients will receive four outreach letters and four enrollment forms. Providers must submit a separate form for each recipient/provider relationship. A single form received indicating multiple recipient/provider relationships for Direct Deposit will be returned to the provider with a request that the provider complete and submit a separate form for each recipient/provider relationship.

Providers who are eligible for Direct Deposit must meet all of the following three requirements:

1. have a checking or savings account
2. receive Arrears Pay paper warrants (pay checks) twice a month
3. have worked in the IHSS Program for a minimum of 90 days. 

There is customer service available including a Help Desk for problem resolution. Provider calls regarding PDD should go to the Direct Deposit Processing Center

toll free (866) 376-7066

The PDD Help Desk at the Direct Deposit Processing Center will be active effective March 17, 2008. This Help Desk number is for Direct Deposit calls only. The Direct Deposit Help Desk is not the same as payroll in your county. The Direct Deposit Help Desk staff will have access only to screens dedicated to Direct Deposit. Therefore, they will not be able to answer any IHSS payroll questions or conduct any payroll related research. Calls for issues other than Direct Deposit will be referred back to the county in which the provider works.

Complete details on Direct Deposit are available in the
ALL-COUNTY INFORMATION NOTICE NO.: I-23-08   (12 page PDF file)

Both Kern and Orange have ratified (voted in) new contracts, with a very high approval from members.  Kern had a 99.5% "yes" vote, and Orange had 97.3% "yes."  The return of ballots was the highest ever for Orange County and continued high for Kern County.

Both Kern and Orange contracts were negotiated by UDW together with home care provider bargaining committees. 

GO TEAM UDW!

Detail of both contracts will be posted on this website shortly.