California — Home Care Organization Employee Dishonesty Bond
If you are applying for a California Home Care Organization license, use the CDSS HCS 402 requirement to arrange protection for clients and their households. Have your organization details ready, then begin through the Propeller purchase link.
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Fidelity protection responds to covered dishonest acts. The form identifies whose money or property is protected, the covered persons, and the applicable limits.
- Bond family
- Fidelity bond
- Recorded state
- California
- Bond type
- Employee Dishonesty & Fidelity Bond
- Category
- Fidelity & employee dishonesty
What this bond does
The HCS 402 bond addresses dishonest or fraudulent acts affecting a home care organization's clients. CDSS lists it among the documents for a Home Care Organization license application.
- Who needs it
- California Home Care Organization applicants and licensees arranging the employee dishonesty bond identified by the Department of Social Services. This listing is for the organization's licensing documents, not an individual aide's registry application.
- Who is protected
- HCS 402 binds the principal and surety to California for the benefit of the licensee's clients and members of their households. Its text covers dishonest or fraudulent acts of the principal or employees, including theft, embezzlement, conversion and fraud, to the extent covered by the bond.
Your bond option
This is the option on record for this bond.
- Bond optionPurchase Now (opens in a new tab)Continue to our secure checkout partner, Propeller (opens in a new tab).
The coverage amount describes a limit of protection, not the price. Match the requested protection and covered persons to the actual fidelity form. The premium is what you pay and must be confirmed for the actual option. An E&O limit, where listed, is separate errors and omissions insurance.
Sources
- California CDSS: Home Care Organization Dishonesty Bond, HCS 402 (opens in a new tab)Checked October 18, 2026
- California CDSS: HCO application instructions, HCS 281 (opens in a new tab)Checked October 18, 2026
- California CDSS: Home Care Organization Application Process (opens in a new tab)Checked October 18, 2026
Have these ready
- Before applying, obtain HCS 402 and read the current HCS 281 instructions linked by CDSS.
- Gather the legal applicant, DBA, mailing address, operating address and HCO number if assigned.
- Confirm the required limit, client and household protection, and dates with the provider and Home Care Services Branch.
- After issuance, check the signatures, acknowledgment, certificate and power of attorney required for the licensing submission.
Questions about this bond
Will ordinary employee theft coverage for my business do?
Do not assume so. HCS 402 expressly addresses protection for clients and household members and says the required employee dishonesty bond includes third-party coverage. Compare the actual documents with the licensing requirement.
What limit do the CDSS instructions identify?
The linked HCS 281 instructions identify a minimum $10,000 limit. Confirm the current required limit and proposed protection with the Home Care Services Branch before completing your application.
Does each renewal create a new aggregate limit?
HCS 402 says the surety's aggregate liability cannot exceed the penal sum regardless of years, license renewals, premiums paid or number of claims. Review the actual issued wording for your arrangement.
Does this replace the rest of my HCO license application?
No. CDSS lists several other application forms and supplemental documents, including insurance information. The dishonesty bond is one component of the licensing packet.