Skidgel v. Cal. Unemployment Ins. App. Bd.

**What Happened** This case involved In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) providers who care for disabled or elderly family members in California. These workers argued they should be eligible for unemployment insurance benefits, claiming the state was wrongfully denying them coverage. IHSS is a government program that pays family members to provide care for their relatives who need assistance with daily activities. **What the Court Decided** The California Court of Appeal ruled against the workers. The court upheld the state's position that IHSS recipients (the people receiving care) are the sole employers of their caregivers, not the state. Because of this employment relationship, the court determined that close family members who provide IHSS care cannot receive unemployment insurance benefits. **Why This Matters for Workers** This ruling significantly impacts thousands of family caregivers in California's IHSS program. These workers cannot collect unemployment benefits if they lose their caregiving positions, even though they receive wages through a state-funded program. Family members who rely on IHSS income should plan accordingly, as they won't have the same unemployment safety net available to most other workers. This decision maintains the existing system where family caregivers have fewer labor protections than traditional employees.