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The California Department of Social Services (DSS) has agreed to postpone implementation of the new IHSS payroll system (CMIPS II) for at least two months in the wake of serious problems with the new system in San Diego and Merced Counties.

The decision followed media coverage of problems with paychecks, timesheets and other payroll issues in San Diego and Merced and a demand by UDW that the rollout be halted until these problems could be addressed.

“We are pleased that the department has recognized the serious financial hardships that problems with this new system have caused for providers and those for whom they care in San Diego and Merced,” said UDW Executive Director Doug Moore. “ It is critical that the system be fixed before CMIPS II is implemented in other counties, but it is also critical that  the specific problems of the providers in San Diego and Merced who have suffered financial harm be addressed before we go forward.”

Prior to this postponement, CMIPS II had been scheduled for statewide implementation in July 2013. The payroll system was scheduled for rollout on Dec. 4, 2012, in Alameda, Contra Costa, Fresno, Kern, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, and Stanislaus counties. 

DSS, the state Office of Systems Integration, and CMIPS II contractor Hewlett Packard recognize that system defects, design issues and operating problems have had adverse impacts during the rollout in San Diego and Merced. They have agreed to work closely with counties, unions, advocates, service providers, and recipients to ensure recipients receive in-home services and that workers are paid in a timely manner.

December 18th Update:

UDW was the first organization to blow the whistle on the serious problems with the new CMIPS II payroll system.  We generated media reports about the situation and contacted  officials in Sacramento demanding that the state take more timely and decisive action to resolve the delays our providers are experiencing.   We are also working closely with the IHSS Public Authorities in San Diego and Merced Counties to help insure that providers get paid on time. 

Several actions have already been taken to resolve these problems.  We were able to delay the rollout of the new system to other counties, and the number of incidents (delays) reported in San Diego and Merced Counties has been substantially reduced. 

Nevertheless, any delay in receiving your paychecks is unacceptable and inexcusable at any time, especially at this time of year. For those that are still having problems with timesheets or paychecks, please call your county IHSS Public Authority or our toll free number 1-800-621-5016  and ask for the Member Communications Center.

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Related:

• Orange County Register: New payroll system bedevils IHSS program
• Merced Sun-Star: Payroll System Will be Late 
• Original Roll-out Dates & nformation on new payroll system and timecards