Benefit programs in Virginia (2026)
For families in Virginia we check every federal program below, then map your state's own programs and point you to the office that runs each one.
We don't put a dollar figure on most of Virginia's own programs yet. Those amounts depend on rules we haven't finished checking against official sources. What you get instead is the program, its official source, and who to call. Federal amounts are computed for every state, including yours.
Virginia families can get Medicaid help with care at home through 4 Medicaid home and community-based services waivers that pay for care in your own home instead of a nursing facility. We have not yet confirmed a dollar figure for a property-tax relief program in Virginia, so none is quoted here. Virginia also runs a federally funded LIHEAP energy-assistance program that helps pay heating bills for qualifying households. Figures checked against official sources, last on 2026-08-05.
Does Virginia Medicaid pay for care at home?
Yes. Virginia runs 4 Medicaid home & community-based services waivers, including "VA Building Independence Waiver (0430.R04.00)" and "VA Commonwealth Coordinated Care Plus Waiver (0321.R05.00)". These pay for care in your own home instead of a nursing facility. We have no confirmed dollar figure for what they pay. Amounts depend on an assessment, and most waivers have waiting lists. Ask Virginia Medicaid, or call 888-992-0959.
- VA Building Independence Waiver (0430.R04.00)
- VA Commonwealth Coordinated Care Plus Waiver (0321.R05.00)
- VA Community Living Waiver (0372.R05.00)
- VA Family and Individual Support Waiver (0358.R05.00)
What property tax relief is available to seniors in Virginia?
Virginia has 2 property-tax relief programs that seniors may qualify for: Real Estate Tax Relief (Exemption) for the Elderly and Disabled and Real Estate Tax Deferral for the Elderly and Disabled. We have not confirmed their dollar amounts against the official state pages (last checked 2026-08-05), so we do not state amounts here. The official links below carry the current figures. Call your state's Aging and Disability Resource Center at 888-992-0959 and ask which you qualify for. They will also tell you the filing deadline, which is usually earlier than people expect.
5 programs in Virginia. Each description below is drawn from its linked source and shown in full: the tag next to each name marks its source tier (GOV/GOV PDF: the program's own official page, ANALYSIS/IND: a secondary source).
Property-tax figures last checked against official sources on 2026-08-05. See how we verify figures.
| Program | Benefit | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Real Estate Tax Relief (Exemption) for the Elderly and Disabled GOV | Local-option (not mandatory) means-tested exemption of up to 100% of real estate tax on the owner-occupied sole dwelling. Each locality sets the percentage/amount and the income and net-worth qualifying limits by ordinance. The ordinance may instead limit relief to the portion of tax representing the increase since the owner turned 65/became disabled, and localities may combine exemption with deferral or freeze the assessed value/tax. Enabling statute: Code of Virginia sec. 58.1-3210 through 58.1-3214. | Official source → |
| Real Estate Tax Deferral for the Elderly and Disabled GOV | Local-option deferral of all or a portion of real estate tax on the qualifying owner-occupied dwelling. Deferred taxes accumulate as a lien on the property, payable (with interest, if the locality charges it, capped at the statutory maximum) when the property is sold or the owner dies. Terms set by locality ordinance under Code of Virginia sec. 58.1-3210 et seq. | Official source → |
| Disabled Veterans Real Property Tax Exemption GOV | 100% exemption from real property tax on the veteran's principal residence and up to one acre of land (localities may exempt additional acreage). Requires a 100% service-connected, permanent and total disability rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, or a rating below 100% but compensated at the 100% rate due to individual unemployability. Also covers manufactured homes and non-business improvements (e.g., garage). MANDATORY statewide (constitutional). Surviving spouse retains the full exemption if the veteran died on or after Jan 1, 2011, so long as the spouse does not remarry, and the spouse may move to a new principal residence. Code of Virginia sec. 58.1-3219.5. | Official source → |
| Real Property Tax Exemption for Surviving Spouses of Armed Forces Members Who Died in the Line of Duty (formerly 'Killed in Action') GOV | Full exemption from real property tax on the surviving spouse's principal residence, up to the locality's average assessed value of a single-family-residential dwelling for the year (any value above that average remains taxable), plus up to one acre of land. Applies where the member died in the line of duty per a U.S. Department of Defense Line of Duty determination (including death by suicide). MANDATORY statewide (constitutional). Spouse qualifies so long as they do not remarry, with no restriction on moving to a different principal residence. Code of Virginia sec. 58.1-3219.9. | Official source → |
| Real Property Tax Exemption for Surviving Spouses of Certain Persons Killed in the Line of Duty (first responders) GOV | Local-option full exemption from real property tax on the surviving spouse's principal residence, up to the locality's average single-family-residential assessed value (value above that remains taxable), plus up to one acre. 'Covered person' is defined by reference to the Line of Duty Act (Code of Virginia sec. 9.1-400) and includes law-enforcement officers, firefighters, search-and-rescue and EMS personnel. Spouse qualifies so long as they do not remarry; may move to a new principal residence. Code of Virginia sec. 58.1-3219.13 (definitions) and 58.1-3219.14. | Official source → |
Real Estate Tax Relief (Exemption) for the Elderly and Disabled GOV
- Benefit
Local-option (not mandatory) means-tested exemption of up to 100% of real estate tax on the owner-occupied sole dwelling. Each locality sets the percentage/amount and the income and net-worth qualifying limits by ordinance. The ordinance may instead limit relief to the portion of tax representing the increase since the owner turned 65/became disabled, and localities may combine exemption with deferral or freeze the assessed value/tax. Enabling statute: Code of Virginia sec. 58.1-3210 through 58.1-3214.
- Official source
- Official source →
Real Estate Tax Deferral for the Elderly and Disabled GOV
- Benefit
Local-option deferral of all or a portion of real estate tax on the qualifying owner-occupied dwelling. Deferred taxes accumulate as a lien on the property, payable (with interest, if the locality charges it, capped at the statutory maximum) when the property is sold or the owner dies. Terms set by locality ordinance under Code of Virginia sec. 58.1-3210 et seq.
- Official source
- Official source →
Disabled Veterans Real Property Tax Exemption GOV
- Benefit
100% exemption from real property tax on the veteran's principal residence and up to one acre of land (localities may exempt additional acreage). Requires a 100% service-connected, permanent and total disability rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, or a rating below 100% but compensated at the 100% rate due to individual unemployability. Also covers manufactured homes and non-business improvements (e.g., garage). MANDATORY statewide (constitutional). Surviving spouse retains the full exemption if the veteran died on or after Jan 1, 2011, so long as the spouse does not remarry, and the spouse may move to a new principal residence. Code of Virginia sec. 58.1-3219.5.
- Official source
- Official source →
Real Property Tax Exemption for Surviving Spouses of Armed Forces Members Who Died in the Line of Duty (formerly 'Killed in Action') GOV
- Benefit
Full exemption from real property tax on the surviving spouse's principal residence, up to the locality's average assessed value of a single-family-residential dwelling for the year (any value above that average remains taxable), plus up to one acre of land. Applies where the member died in the line of duty per a U.S. Department of Defense Line of Duty determination (including death by suicide). MANDATORY statewide (constitutional). Spouse qualifies so long as they do not remarry, with no restriction on moving to a different principal residence. Code of Virginia sec. 58.1-3219.9.
- Official source
- Official source →
Real Property Tax Exemption for Surviving Spouses of Certain Persons Killed in the Line of Duty (first responders) GOV
- Benefit
Local-option full exemption from real property tax on the surviving spouse's principal residence, up to the locality's average single-family-residential assessed value (value above that remains taxable), plus up to one acre. 'Covered person' is defined by reference to the Line of Duty Act (Code of Virginia sec. 9.1-400) and includes law-enforcement officers, firefighters, search-and-rescue and EMS personnel. Spouse qualifies so long as they do not remarry; may move to a new principal residence. Code of Virginia sec. 58.1-3219.13 (definitions) and 58.1-3219.14.
- Official source
- Official source →
How much heating bill help can I get in Virginia?
Up to $634 toward heating bills. That is the FY 2026 maximum Virginia's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) publishes. Most households get less. This is the ceiling, not a typical amount. A separate crisis benefit of up to $4,200 is available if your service is about to be shut off. Source: https://liheapch.acf.gov/profiles/Virginia.htm
| Program | Benefit | Published maximum | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) | Help with heating bills, plus emergency help if service is at risk. Emergency crisis help is available. | In Virginia the published heating maximum is $634. Crisis maximum: $4,200. | Official source → |
Retirement income tax
Social Security in Virginia: Virginia fully exempts Social Security benefits and Tier 1 Railroad Retirement benefits from state income tax. Any portion included in federal adjusted gross income is subtracted on the Virginia return. Source: Virginia Department of Taxation, Subtractions page.
Pensions, IRAs, and 401(k)s: Pension, IRA, and 401(k)/employer-plan distributions are taxed as ordinary income at Virginia's rates (2%-5.75%), with no general blanket exclusion. Key relief for retirees: (1) AGE DEDUCTION of up to $12,000 per qualifying taxpayer age 65+. Taxpayers born on or before Jan 1, 1939 may claim the full $12,000 regardless of income; taxpayers born on or after Jan 2, 1939 (i.e., those turning 65 later) have the $12,000 reduced dollar-for-dollar by the amount their 'adjusted federal adjusted gross income' (federal AGI minus taxable Social Security/Tier 1 Railroad Retirement) exceeds $50,000 (single) or $75,000 (married). For tax year 2025, taxpayers born on or before Jan 1, 1960 can qualify. (2) DISABILITY INCOME SUBTRACTION of up to $20,000 of income received for permanent and total disability (IRC sec. 22) - cannot be combined with the Age Deduction. (3) MILITARY RETIREMENT / SBP SUBTRACTION
Official source →Federal programs: checked in Virginia too
These are computed for every family, wherever they live.
VA Aid & Attendance
An extra monthly VA payment for wartime veterans and surviving spouses who need daily help.
Medicare Savings Programs
State help that pays your Medicare premiums, and sometimes deductibles and copays.
Medicare Extra Help
Lowers what you pay for prescription drugs under Medicare Part D.
SNAP (food support)
Monthly money for groceries. Older adults often qualify for more than they expect.
Social Security & SSI
Checks whether the person may be missing Social Security or Supplemental Security Income.
Federal tax credits
Credits and deductions families miss, including medical expenses and the credit for the elderly or disabled.
Medicare before 65
Medicare eligibility for people under 65 through a disability.
Who do I call in Virginia for help with elder care?
Call your state's Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) at 888-992-0959. They're the free, no-wrong-door starting point for home care, respite and other long-term-care options in Virginia. If someone is unsafe, neglected or being exploited, Adult Protective Services can help at 888-832-3858.
Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) / No Wrong Door
Free help understanding your options.
888-992-0959Which of these fits your family?
Being on this list doesn't mean your family qualifies. That depends on income, savings, care needs and service history. The free check works out which ones are worth your time, in about four minutes.
Not legal or medical advice. Benefits vary. Figures are estimates.