By Richmond Senior Advisor Care Team · October 19, 2026
The Auxiliary Grant (AG) helps SSI-eligible adults pay a licensed assisted living facility that accepts AG residents; the 2026 rate is $2,130 a month with an $87 personal needs allowance. The steps are: confirm SSI-level income, find an AG-approved facility with an opening, get a Uniform Assessment Instrument by a public assessor, and apply through the local DSS. The bed, not the paperwork, is usually the bottleneck.
What is the Auxiliary Grant and who is it for?
Virginia's Auxiliary Grant is a cash payment for aged, blind or disabled adults who receive Supplemental Security Income, or who would qualify except that their income is a little too high, to help pay for care in a licensed assisted living facility. It is not Medicaid, and in Virginia Medicaid does not pay assisted living room and board, so the AG is the main public help for lower-income residents.
The program manager sits at the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services, but families deal with their local Department of Social Services, which takes the application and determines eligibility.
How much does the Auxiliary Grant pay in 2026?
DARS's November 2025 rate letter set the AG rate at $2,130 a month effective January 1, 2026, up $27 from $2,103 to reflect the Social Security cost-of-living increase. The personal needs allowance, which the resident keeps for personal expenses, stayed at $87. Northern Virginia's Planning District 8 has a higher rate, $2,450, but that differential does not apply anywhere in the Richmond region or the Tri-Cities.
| 2026 Auxiliary Grant | Amount |
|---|---|
| Rate (Richmond region and Tri-Cities) | $2,130 a month |
| Rate (Northern Virginia, PD 8) | $2,450 a month |
| Personal needs allowance | $87 a month |
| Effective | January 1, 2026 |
In broad terms, the resident's own income and the grant together make up the facility's AG rate, and the facility accepts that as payment for room, board and the care it provides at that level.
What is the first step for a Richmond family?
Start by confirming income. If your parent already receives SSI, the income test is likely met. If not, compare their monthly income with the AG rate plus the personal needs allowance; the local DSS eligibility worker can tell you quickly whether it is worth applying.
At the same time, start calling facilities. Ask directly whether they accept AG residents and whether they have an AG bed available now or soon. Many Richmond-area facilities do not participate, and those that do often have a short list of AG openings. An approval without a bed does not help.
Why is the Uniform Assessment Instrument needed?
To receive the AG in assisted living, the person must be assessed on the Uniform Assessment Instrument as needing residential living care or assisted living care. For public-pay residents, the UAI is completed by a case manager or qualified public assessor rather than by facility staff. The local DSS or the hospital, if your parent is an inpatient, can arrange it.
The UAI also drives the facility's service plan, so ask for a copy and check that it describes your parent accurately.
How long does the process take in practice?
There is no published standard timeline, and it varies with how quickly documents come together and whether a bed is open. Families who move fastest usually have income statements, bank records, identification and insurance cards ready before they apply, and have already identified an AG-approved facility.
Where applications stall is almost always one of three things: missing financial documents, no available AG bed, or confusion about which locality's DSS should handle the case after a move. If your parent lives in Chesterfield but the facility is in Henrico, ask both offices how the case will transfer.
What should the facility's business office do during an AG application?
A facility that accepts Auxiliary Grant residents usually knows the local DSS process well. Ask the business office to tell you which forms it completes, how it communicates with the eligibility worker, and what it charges while the application is pending. Ask also whether it requires the resident's own income to be paid to the facility from the first month, and how the personal needs allowance is handled.
Which documents should I gather before applying?
Have proof of identity and age, a Social Security card or number, the most recent SSI or Social Security award letter, statements for every bank account and any other income, information about property, and insurance cards. If someone holds power of attorney, bring a copy. Missing paperwork is the most common reason an application sits, so it helps to make two copies of everything and keep one set for the facility's business office.
What happens if a private-pay resident runs out of money?
If your parent already lives in a facility as a private-pay resident and savings are running out, ask the facility now whether it will convert them to AG in place. Some will; others will begin discharge planning, which in Virginia means notice of the reason, a move normally within 30 days, and written notice of the date and destination at least 14 days ahead. Getting that answer in the resident agreement before move-in is the best protection.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Auxiliary Grant the same as Medicaid?
No. It is a state cash program tied to SSI eligibility; Medicaid in Virginia does not pay assisted living room and board.
What is the 2026 Auxiliary Grant rate in Henrico?
$2,130 a month, the same as everywhere outside Northern Virginia's Planning District 8.
Can the Auxiliary Grant be used for memory care?
Only in a licensed facility approved to accept AG residents; few secured special care units do, so ask each one.
Where do I apply in Chesterfield?
Through the Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Department of Social Services, or online through CommonHelp.
