San Bernardino County In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Public Authority administers the statewide Back-Up Provider System (BUPS) program for IHSS or WPCS-eligible (Waiver Personal Care Services) recipients who have an urgent and immediate need for a back-up provider related to personal care services or when a recipient is transitioning from out-of-home care to home-based care and does not have a provider yet identified.

What is considered an urgent or immediate need? A need that is immediate and cannot be postponed until the regular provider is available to provide the service; and the need has a direct impact upon the IHSS/WPCS recipient that delaying it would potentially jeopardize the health/safety of the recipient, which may result in the need for emergency services and/or out-of-home placement. 

“Caregivers are essential to the health and well-being of seniors and disabled adults,” said Acting Executive Director Myette Christian, IHSS Public Authority. “The care provided allows this vulnerable population to remain safely in their homes.”

To qualify for a BUPS provider, you must be eligible for IHSS services, and a request must be received and approved by an IHSS Social Worker. Recipients may qualify for a maximum of 80 service hours per fiscal year under the BUPS program. Hours are not additional and are deducted from the recipient’s approved IHSS/WPCS hours. Please contact your local IHSS San Bernardino County office for approval. Upon approval, a Public Authority Social Worker will review and process your request.

For more information about the BUPS program, please contact the Public Authority Registry at (866) 985-6322 or visit https://publicauthority.sbcounty.gov.


Additional County Update News – March 7, 2024