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Income and Social Security
Virginia SSI supplement
Virginia's state supplement is called the Auxiliary Grant.
It gives monthly money to people 65 or older, blind or disabled with low income to help pay for an approved assisted living facility, adult foster care home or supportive housing. It doesn't go to people living in their own homes.
How to apply in Virginia
- In person
- Your local department of social services in the city or county where you lived before entering assisted living
Who may qualify in Virginia
| Who may qualify | People who get SSI, and certain other adults who are 65 or older, blind or disabled, and are assessed at the needed level of care |
|---|---|
| Where you live | A qualified assisted living facility, adult foster home or supportive housing that accepts Auxiliary Grants |
| Income | Less than the approved Auxiliary Grant rate plus the personal needs allowance |
| Savings limit | Less than $2,000 for one person or $3,000 for a couple |
| Residency | Lived in Virginia at least 90 days, unless you moved to join a close relative who has |
Source: Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (source 1)
What you may get
| Monthly supplement, one person living on their own (2026) | None for people living on their own |
|---|---|
| Monthly Auxiliary Grant, assisted living or adult foster care (2026) | The approved Auxiliary Grant rate plus the personal needs allowance, minus your income (including SSI) |
| Maximum Auxiliary Grant rate outside Northern Virginia (January 2024 sample, the latest figure DARS publishes) | $2,079 a month |
| Minimum personal needs allowance (January 2024 sample) | $87 a month |
Source: Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (source 1)
Dates, renewals and waiting lists
| How long a decision may take | Up to 45 days Source: Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (source 1) |
|---|---|
| When rates change | Usually each January with the Social Security cost-of-living increase; sometimes July 1 when the General Assembly approves a raise Source: Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (hosted on vadsa.org) (source 3) |
How Virginia is different
Where Virginia's rules differ from the federal rules for State SSI supplements.
- Paid separately by the state; apply with your local department of social services
- The check is made out to you, or to your authorized payee, not to the facility
Sources: Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (source 1), Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (hosted on vadsa.org) (source 3)
Good to know
- Northern Virginia (Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park) has its own, separate rate.
- Not every assisted living facility accepts Auxiliary Grants, and if you move in before approval you pay the costs until then.
Sources: Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (hosted on vadsa.org) (source 3), Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (source 1)
Free help
Free help with this in Virginia
Division for the Aging
Your local Area Agency on Aging can help with meals, rides, help at home, caregiver support and applying for benefits.
More help in Virginia
State SSI supplement in another state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Vermont
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
Sources
- Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services, Auxiliary Grant (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services, Sample Calculation of Monthly AG Payment (January 2024 figures) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (hosted on vadsa.org), Auxiliary Grant Program Manual, Chapter J: Grant Computation and Issuance (linked from the DARS Auxiliary Grant provider page). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
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