Social Security disability
Disability benefits in Virginia
Social Security rules are the same in every state. This page covers what is different in Virginia: who decides your claim, state money added to SSI, Medicaid, hearings and free help.
You have 60 days to appeal each decision, plus 5 days for mail.
Who decides your claim in Virginia?
Virginia Disability Determination Services (DDS)
This state office decides the medical part of your Social Security disability claim (SSDI and SSI). Your local Social Security office checks the other rules, like work credits, income and resources. DDS gets your records from your doctors, hospitals and clinics at no cost to you. DDS also makes disability decisions for some Medicaid claims.
- Part of
- Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS)
- Phone
- 855-445-3938
- Disability Determination Services, 5620 Cox Rd, Glen Allen, VA 23060
If DDS needs more information, it may set up a medical exam or test for you. DDS pays for the exam or test. DDS may also pay back some of your travel costs to get there, at a set rate.
Does Virginia add money to SSI?
Auxiliary Grant (AG)
The Auxiliary Grant is Virginia's state money for people who get SSI (or some other adults) who are 65 or older, blind or disabled. It is only for people who live in an assisted living facility, adult foster care home or supportive housing that accepts Auxiliary Grants. Since January 1, 2026, the maximum rate is $2,130 a month ($2,450 in Northern Virginia), plus an $87 personal needs allowance. The grant pays the difference between that amount and your income. Your assets must be under $2,000 ($3,000 for a couple). You must have lived in Virginia for at least 90 days, with some exceptions.
Paid by: the state
| Who | Effective |
|---|---|
| Approved assisted living facility or adult foster care home (most of Virginia): maximum Auxiliary Grant rate $2,130 a month, plus an $87 personal needs allowance. The grant is the rate plus $87, minus your income. | January 1, 2026 |
| Approved assisted living facility or adult foster care home in Planning District 8 (Northern Virginia): maximum rate $2,450 a month, plus an $87 personal needs allowance. The grant is the rate plus $87, minus your income. | January 1, 2026 |
- How to apply
- It is not automatic with SSI. First apply for SSI. Then ask your local department of social services (or your community services board case manager) for a care assessment. Fill out the Auxiliary Grants application and send it to the local department of social services in the city or county where you lived before you moved into the facility. They have 45 days to decide.
- Contact
- Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (Auxiliary Grant program) / your local department of social services
804-662-7000
https://dars.virginia.gov/benefits/auxiliary-grant/
Medicaid in Virginia
Virginia uses its own, stricter rules for Medicaid. Getting SSI does not give you Medicaid by itself. You must apply for Medicaid with Virginia, through Cover Virginia or your local department of social services. If your income is too high, you may still be able to get Medicaid through a spenddown, where you have a certain amount of medical bills first.
- Program
- Virginia Medicaid (Cardinal Care)
- Medicaid agency
- Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) - Cover Virginia
https://coverva.dmas.virginia.gov/learn/coverage-for-adults/medicaid-for-persons-who-are-aged-blind-or-disabled-abd/
1-855-242-8282 (TTY 1-888-221-1590)
Medicaid for working people with disabilities: MEDICAID WORKS
MEDICAID WORKS lets people with disabilities who work keep Medicaid while earning and saving more. You must be blind or disabled, be 16 to 64, have a job (or a letter from an employer with your start date), sign the MEDICAID WORKS Agreement, and open a Work Incentive (WIN) bank account for your earnings. Enrollees can earn up to $75,000 and save up to $59,755 (amounts effective January 1, 2025). To start, your countable income must be no more than $1,801 a month ($2,434 for a couple) (2025 limits) and your resources no more than $2,000 ($3,000 for a couple). Apply at your local department of social services.
Medicare Savings Programs
Virginia Medicaid has Medicare Savings Programs that pay Medicare premiums for eligible people. Their income and resource limits are higher than for full Medicaid. https://www.dmas.virginia.gov/for-applicants/populations-served/for-adults/
State disability and paid leave in Virginia
Virginia has no state-run short-term disability or paid medical leave program listed here.
Hearing offices and federal court in Virginia
4 hearing offices serve Virginia. Hearing office locator (Social Security)
Charlottesville, VA Hearing Office
Hearing office
- Address
- 2nd Floor, 1470 Pantops Mountain Place, Charlottesville, VA 22911
- Phone
- (866) 613-2969
- Fax
- (833) 659-0418
Norfolk, VA Hearing Office
Hearing office
- Address
- 3rd Floor, 5850 Lake Herbert Drive, Norfolk, VA 23502
- Phone
- (866) 931-9167
- Fax
- (833) 659-0420
Richmond, VA Hearing Office
Hearing office
- Address
- Suite 225, 1100 E. Main Street, Richmond, VA 23219
- Phone
- (877) 405-3665
- Fax
- (833) 949-2150
Roanoke, VA Hearing Office
Hearing office
- Address
- Second Floor, Suite 200, 612 South Jefferson Street, Roanoke, VA 24011
- Phone
- (866) 592-3548
- Fax
- (833) 659-0415
Federal district court
If you appeal to federal court, you file in the district court that covers your county.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
Court help for people without a lawyer
Independent cities belong to the district of the county they are located in or were formed from (28 U.S.C. §127(c)). Cities such as Alexandria, Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Richmond, Suffolk and Virginia Beach are in the Eastern District.
Counties covered (43)
- Accomack
- Amelia
- Arlington
- Brunswick
- Caroline
- Charles City
- Chesterfield
- Dinwiddie
- Essex
- Fairfax
- Fauquier
- Gloucester
- Goochland
- Greensville
- Hanover
- Henrico
- Isle of Wight
- James City
- King and Queen
- King George
- King William
- Lancaster
- Loudoun
- Lunenburg
- Mathews
- Mecklenburg
- Middlesex
- New Kent
- Northampton
- Northumberland
- Nottoway
- Powhatan
- Prince Edward
- Prince George
- Prince William
- Richmond
- Southampton
- Spotsylvania
- Stafford
- Surry
- Sussex
- Westmoreland
- York
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia
Court help for people without a lawyer
Independent cities belong to the district of the county they are located in or were formed from (28 U.S.C. §127(c)).
Counties covered (52)
- Albemarle
- Alleghany
- Amherst
- Appomattox
- Augusta
- Bath
- Bedford
- Bland
- Botetourt
- Buchanan
- Buckingham
- Campbell
- Carroll
- Charlotte
- Clarke
- Craig
- Culpeper
- Cumberland
- Dickenson
- Floyd
- Fluvanna
- Franklin
- Frederick
- Giles
- Grayson
- Greene
- Halifax
- Henry
- Highland
- Lee
- Louisa
- Madison
- Montgomery
- Nelson
- Orange
- Page
- Patrick
- Pittsylvania
- Pulaski
- Rappahannock
- Roanoke
- Rockbridge
- Rockingham
- Russell
- Scott
- Shenandoah
- Smyth
- Tazewell
- Warren
- Washington
- Wise
- Wythe
Free help in Virginia
Protection & Advocacy agency (P&A)
disAbility Law Center of Virginia
- Phone
- 804-225-2042 (voice/TTY; toll-free 800-552-3962)
- Website
- https://www.dlcv.org/
Legal aid
- Virginia Law Help (statewide legal aid information and program finder)
https://www.virginialawhelp.org/ - Blue Ridge Legal Services
https://brls.org/ - Central Virginia Legal Aid Society · 804-648-1012 (toll-free 800-868-1012)
https://cvlas.org/ - Legal Services of Northern Virginia
https://lsnv.org/ - Southwest Virginia Legal Aid Society · 1-888-201-2772
https://svlas.org/ - Virginia Legal Aid Society · 1-866-534-5243
https://www.vlas.org/
Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)
Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) - Vocational Rehabilitation
- Phone
- 804-662-7000 (toll-free 800-552-5019, videophone 804-325-1316)
- Website
- https://dars.virginia.gov/
Good to know in Virginia
- Virginia is a 209(b) state. Getting SSI does not give you Medicaid automatically. You must apply to the state. (POMS SI 01715.010)
- Since January 1, 2026, the maximum Auxiliary Grant rate is $2,130 a month ($2,450 in Northern Virginia, Planning District 8), plus an $87 personal needs allowance. (DARS rate letter, November 10, 2025)
- Virginia DDS sends you an introduction letter with your disability analyst's direct contact information. That person is your contact for questions. (DARS)
Recent changes
January 1, 2026: Auxiliary Grant maximum rate rose from $2,103 to $2,130 (Planning District 8: $2,418 to $2,450); personal needs allowance stays $87 (DARS letter of November 10, 2025; Appropriation Act Item 332).
More RobinClaim guides for Virginia → · All states
Sources
- DARS - Disability Determination
- DARS - Disability Determination Services division
- SSA POMS SI 01715.010 - Medicaid and the SSI Program
- SSA POMS SI 01415.058 - Federally Administered Optional Supplementary Payment Programs for January 2026 (Virginia not listed)
- DARS - Auxiliary Grant
- DARS - Auxiliary Grant rate letter for 2026 (November 10, 2025)
- Virginia Appropriation Act 2026, Item 332
- DARS - Sample Calculation of Monthly AG Payment
- DMAS - For Adults
- DMAS - Medicaid Works
- DMAS - MEDICAID WORKS fact sheet (2025)
- Cover Virginia - Medicaid for Persons who are Aged, Blind, or Disabled
- ABLEnow
- NDRN - Member Agencies (Virginia)
- LSC - Our Grantees
- Virginia Law Help
- 28 U.S.C. §127 - Virginia (govinfo)
- Social Security: office locator
- Social Security: hearing office locator
Last checked: November 2026