How to apply for Virginia DARS Personal Assistance Services (attendant care)

Who it's for

State-funded, consumer-directed attendant care for Virginians with a serious physical or sensory disability or a brain injury. PAS pays for a personal assistant you recruit, hire, schedule and manage yourself to help with transferring, bathing, grooming, toileting, meals and eating, and dressing — so you can stay out of a nursing home and stay active in your community. You must be at least 18, be able to direct your own care and act as the assistant's employer, and not be eligible for the same help through Medicaid or another program. State PAS has a resource limit of $75,000; income is judged on a sliding scale. Apply by mail to the DARS PAS Program, 5620 Cox Rd, Glen Allen, VA 23060 (PASprogram@dars.virginia.gov); if you have not applied for Medicaid in the past two years, DARS requires a Medicaid determination first.

What you'll need

• Completed DARS PAS application (download from the PAS page and mail it)
• A Medicaid eligibility determination from the past two years (apply for Medicaid first if you have not)
• Documentation of your disability and functional limitations
• Income and resource information

Where to apply

What to say when you call

"Hello, I'm calling to ask about Virginia DARS Personal Assistance Services (attendant care). I'd like to know whether I may qualify, what documents I need, and whether I can apply online, by mail, by phone, or in person. I understand I may need completed DARS PAS application (download from the PAS page and mail it), a Medicaid eligibility determination from the past two years (apply for Medicaid first if you have not), documentation of your disability and functional limitations — is anything else required? What is the best next step?"

Tip: have a pen ready, ask for the person's name, and write down any case or reference number they give you.

Step by step

1. Check eligibility before applying. You must be at least 18, have a serious physical or sensory disability or a brain injury, be able to direct your own care and handle employer paperwork, and not qualify for the same help through Medicaid or another program. State PAS also applies a $75,000 resource limit and a sliding income scale. Note: DARS states this program is extremely limited due to these requirements. If you have a brain injury, a personal representative must co-manage services with you.
2. Apply for Medicaid first if you have not done so in the past two years. DARS requires a Medicaid eligibility determination before it can process a PAS application. Do not skip this step.
3. Gather your required documents: a completed DARS PAS application form (download it from the PAS page), your Medicaid eligibility determination from the past two years, documentation of your disability and functional limitations, and your income and resource information.
4. Contact DARS to ask questions or get help before submitting. Call the DARS PAS Program at 804-662-7000.
5. Mail your completed application and all supporting documents to: DARS PAS Program, 5620 Cox Rd, Glen Allen, VA 23060. You may also reach the program by email at PASprogram@dars.virginia.gov if you have questions about your submission.

What to expect: After DARS receives your application, staff will review your Medicaid determination, disability documentation, and financial information to decide if you qualify. Processing times vary, so contact DARS at 804-662-7000 for an estimate. If approved, you will recruit, hire, schedule, and manage your own personal assistant, who is paid through the program to help with tasks such as bathing, grooming, transferring, meals, and dressing. DARS conducts an annual financial and functional re-review to confirm you still meet eligibility requirements, so be prepared to provide updated information each year to keep your benefits active.

Renewals

ongoing (annual financial and functional re-review by DARS)