Virginia Auxiliary Grant Assisted Living

What the Auxiliary Grant Covers

Virginia does not provide a general state supplement to SSI recipients living independently. Instead, the state operates the Auxiliary Grant program — a targeted income supplement for individuals residing in licensed Adult Care Residences, Assisted Living Facilities, or supportive housing settings. The program fills the gap between the individual's personal income (typically SSI) and the cost of room and board at their residential facility.

Standard Medicaid and HCBS waivers fund medical and caregiving services. They do not fund room and board. This distinction catches many families off guard — they assume that once their adult child has Medicaid and a DD waiver, all residential costs are covered. They are not. The Auxiliary Grant exists specifically to address this gap.

2026 Rates

The Virginia General Assembly sets the maximum monthly Auxiliary Grant rate, which varies by geography:

• Northern Virginia (Planning District 8): $2,450 per month
• Rest of state: $2,130 per month

The 15% regional differential for Northern Virginia reflects the higher cost of residential care in that market. These rates represent both the maximum AG payment and the maximum amount the facility can charge for room and board — the facility cannot collect more than the approved AG rate.

Recent legislative sessions have proposed raising the maximum rate to $2,500 statewide and increasing the Personal Needs Allowance, though these changes depend on budget appropriations.

How the Payment Works

The Auxiliary Grant is a supplement, not a replacement for the individual's own income. The math works like this:

1. The individual's countable monthly income (SSI benefit, SSDI, any other income) goes to the facility first
2. The Auxiliary Grant pays the difference between the individual's income and the AG rate
3. The individual retains a Personal Needs Allowance of $87 per month for personal items not provided by the facility

For example, an individual receiving SSI of $994/month in a rest-of-state facility:

• Facility rate: $2,130
• Individual pays: $994 − $87 PNA = $907 toward room and board
• Auxiliary Grant pays: $2,130 − $907 = $1,223

The facility is prohibited from collecting more than the designated AG rate. The $87 Personal Needs Allowance is the individual's money — it cannot be turned over to the facility or redirected to cover room and board charges.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for the Auxiliary Grant, the individual must meet all of these criteria:

• Income: Countable monthly income below the AG rate plus the $87 personal needs allowance for their region
• Resources: Countable resources below $2,000 ($3,000 for couples)
• Level of care: Meet a minimum residential level of care on the Uniform Assessment Instrument (UAI)
• Residency: Have lived in Virginia for at least 90 days
• Living arrangement: Reside in a state-licensed Adult Care Residence, Assisted Living Facility, or approved supportive housing setting

The AG is jointly administered by the Virginia Department of Social Services and the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS). Applications are processed through the local DSS office, which also handles the UAI assessment and financial eligibility determination.

How AG Interacts With SSI and Medicaid

The Auxiliary Grant is a state income supplement on top of the individual's SSI (or other personal income). In the example above, the resident still receives the full $994 SSI Federal Benefit Rate; the grant fills the gap between that income (minus the personal needs allowance) and the facility's AG rate.

Medicaid eligibility continues alongside the AG. In fact, having active Medicaid is essential for funding the medical and caregiving services in the facility — while AG covers room and board, Medicaid covers the care itself. Virginia's separate Medicaid application requirement still applies; the AG application through DSS does not automatically establish Medicaid coverage.

For individuals who live in an AG-eligible assisted living facility, adult foster care home, or supportive housing setting, Medicaid (services) and the Auxiliary Grant (room and board) both need to be active. Community Living waiver group homes are a different residential setting: the CL waiver funds services, and the individual typically pays room and board from personal income — the Auxiliary Grant does not cover standard CL group homes.

Finding AG-Eligible Facilities

Not every assisted living facility in Virginia accepts Auxiliary Grant residents. Facilities must be licensed by the Virginia Department of Social Services and must agree to accept the AG rate as full payment for room and board. Some private facilities charge well above the AG maximum and do not participate in the program.

The local DSS office maintains a list of AG-participating facilities in the area. DARS can also provide referrals. Availability varies significantly by region — Northern Virginia's higher rate attracts more participating facilities, while rural areas may have limited options.

When evaluating facilities, confirm that the provider:

• Is currently accepting new AG residents (some have waitlists)
• Accepts the current AG rate as payment in full
• Is licensed for the level of care the individual requires
• Has experience serving individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities (not all ALFs do)

The Virginia SSI at 18 & Adult Disability Benefits Guide covers the Auxiliary Grant application process, how to coordinate AG with SSI and Medicaid, and the financial math for residential care planning.

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