VA Clothing Allowance Benefit for Veterans
May 05, 2022
It’s that time of year again when the Department of Veterans Affairs sends out letters to service-connected veterans that are eligible to apply for a VA clothing allowance benefit.
What is a VA Clothing Allowance?
VA Clothing Allowances are a single, annual benefit paid to a veteran whose clothing is worn or damaged due to the use of prescribed medications or orthopedic devices for a service-connected disability.
VA’s Clothing Allowance covers the following articles of clothing:
- Shirts
- Blouses
- Pants
- Skirts
- Shorts
- Similar garments
Articles of clothing NOT included:
- Shoes
- Hats
- Scarves
- Underwear
- Socks
- Similar garments
Eligibility Requirements for a VA Clothing Allowance
Veterans who use a prescribed prosthetic or skin medication for a service-connected condition may qualify for an annual VA clothing allowance. To be eligible, the prosthetic or orthopedic device must cause wear and tear, or the prescribed skin medication must cause irreparable staining.
Some veterans can qualify for more than one annual clothing allowance if they meet certain criteria:
- More than one qualifying prosthetic or orthopedic appliance tends to wear or tear clothing.
- Skin medication for more than one service-connected skin condition is used that causes irreparable staining.
- At least one qualifying prosthetic or orthopedic appliance tends to wear or tear clothing and medication for more than one service-connected skin condition is used that causes irreparable staining.
How to Apply for a VA Clothing Allowance
To apply for the VA Clothing Allowance program, you must first have your condition service-connected through the Veterans Benefits Administration, then complete VA Form 10-8678. This form should be sent to the Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service at your local VA Medical Center (VAMC), not the regional office.
To be considered for a clothing allowance, you must submit your VA Form 10-8678 to your local VAMC by August 1st of that year. These benefits are usually distributed to veterans between September 1st and October 31st.