Do I have to apply for VA benefits before Medicaid?

Do I have to apply for VA benefits before Medicaid?

Short answer: Medicaid generally requires applicants to apply for other benefits they are entitled to, and some states ask about VA benefits. But you do not usually have to wait for a VA decision before applying.

Figures change periodically. Double-check current amounts before relying on them.

Federal Medicaid rules require applicants, as a condition of eligibility, to take all necessary steps to obtain annuities, pensions, retirement and disability benefits to which they are entitled, unless they can show good cause. Some states apply this to VA pensions and compensation and ask whether the applicant has applied.

In practice:

  • Do not delay the Medicaid application while a VA claim is pending. File both. The Medicaid filing date matters for retroactive coverage and the look-back.
  • Report a pending VA claim on the Medicaid application, and report the decision when it arrives.
  • Plan for back pay. A VA award can include a lump sum for past months. It is generally income in the month received and an asset afterward, so plan how it will be used if assets are near the limit.
  • Know the $90 rule. A veteran or surviving spouse with no dependents in a Medicaid nursing home generally has the pension reduced to $90 a month, which they keep.

Whether a VA pension helps depends on the care setting. It often helps more with assisted living and home care than with long-term nursing home care.

Getting help

Every situation is different, and small facts can change the answer. If this question affects a real decision, especially with a spouse at home, a home, gifts or a trust, a Certified Medicaid Planner can apply your state’s rules to your situation. As a rough guide, published fees for help with an application range from about $500 to $6,000, and hourly help from about $150 to $600.

Last updated for 2026. General information only, not legal or financial advice. Medicaid Answers is a free educational resource published by Medicaid Answers Foundation.

Scroll to Top