VA Clothing Allowance

The VA clothing allowance is an annual lump-sum payment to help veterans replace clothing that has been worn, torn, or damaged by a qualifying prosthetic or orthopedic appliance (including wheelchairs) or by a physician-prescribed topical medication used for a service-connected skin condition.

A veteran may qualify for one or more clothing allowances in a single year if multiple appliances or medications affect different types of garments, or if multiple appliances/medications together damage the same garment at an increased rate.

38 USC § 1162; 38 CFR § 3.810

The clothing allowance is paid as a lump sum on or after the August 1 anniversary date each year. The rate adjusts annually with the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), typically effective December 1.

Source: VA Special Benefit Allowance Rates

Per 38 CFR § 3.810(a), a veteran with a service-connected disability (or a disability compensable under 38 USC § 1151 as if it were service-connected) qualifies for an annual clothing allowance if one of the following is established:

1. Loss or loss of use of a hand or foot — A VA examination or hospital report establishes that, because of a service-connected loss/loss of use of a hand or foot compensable under 38 CFR § 3.350(a), (b), (c), (d), or (f), the veteran wears or uses a qualifying prosthetic or orthopedic appliance (including a wheelchair) that tends to wear or tear clothing. (§ 3.810(a)(1)(i))
2. Prosthetic/orthopedic appliance wears or tears clothing — The Under Secretary for Health or designee certifies that, because of a service-connected disability, the veteran wears or uses a qualifying prosthetic or orthopedic appliance (including a wheelchair) that tends to wear or tear clothing. (§ 3.810(a)(1)(ii)(A))
3. Skin medication damages clothing — The veteran uses a physician-prescribed medication for a skin condition that is due to a service-connected disability, and that medication causes irreparable damage to the veteran's outergarments. (§ 3.810(a)(1)(ii)(B))

Source: VA.gov Clothing Allowance; 38 CFR § 3.810(a)

The clothing allowance is not limited to one per veteran. Per 38 CFR § 3.810(a)(2)–(3):

• Multiple garment types affected (§ 3.810(a)(2)): A veteran is entitled to a separate annual clothing allowance for each qualifying appliance or medication if each one affects a distinct type of article of clothing or outergarment. Example: a back brace that wears shirts plus a leg prosthesis that wears trousers.
• Two allowances for a single garment type (§ 3.810(a)(3)): A veteran may receive two annual allowances when more than one appliance, more than one skin medication, or a combination, each individually qualifies and together tends to wear/tear or irreparably damage a single type of garment at an increased rate due to the second appliance or medication.

Source: 38 CFR § 3.810(a)(2)–(3)

Steps

1. Complete VA Form 21-8678 (Application for Annual Clothing Allowance)
2. Gather supporting evidence — a prescription for the topical skin medication, or documentation that you wear/use the prosthetic or orthopedic appliance (including a wheelchair)
3. Submit to the prosthetic representative at your local VA medical center, by mail, in person at a VA regional office, or through an accredited representative (VSO)
4. File on or before August 1 each year for that year's payment

Late-Filing Exception

Per 38 CFR § 3.810(c)(2), if VA's initial service-connection decision is made after an anniversary date for which you would have qualified, you may file the clothing allowance application within 1 year from the date VA notified you of that service-connection decision.

Contact: Call VA at 800-827-1000, Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. ET.

Source: VA.gov Clothing Allowance; 38 CFR § 3.810(c)

Per 38 CFR § 3.810(d), if a veteran is incarcerated in a federal, state, or local penal institution for more than 60 days and is furnished clothing without charge by the institution, VA reduces the annual clothing allowance by 1/365th of the amount otherwise payable for each day of incarceration during the 12-month period preceding the anniversary date. No reduction is made for the first 60 days.

Authority: 38 USC § 5313A; 38 CFR § 3.810(d)

• Missing the August 1 deadline. The 1-year filing window runs August 1 through July 31 — miss it and you forfeit that year's payment.
• Not reapplying each year. Once entitlement is established VA often continues payments, but veterans should confirm with their VA medical center and file a new VA Form 21-8678 if asked.
• Failing to document appliance use. A VA exam, hospital report, or certification from the Under Secretary for Health (or designee) is required — anecdotal statements are not enough.
• Assuming only one allowance is available. Multiple qualifying appliances/medications that affect different garment types each get their own allowance under § 3.810(a)(2).
• Not applying after a new skin-medication prescription. If a physician later prescribes a topical medication for a service-connected skin condition that damages outergarments, that's a new basis for a clothing allowance.
• Overlooking wheelchairs. The regulation expressly includes wheelchairs as a qualifying "prosthetic or orthopedic appliance."

Sources

• VA.gov — Clothing Allowance Eligibility
• VA.gov — Current Special Benefit Allowance Rates
• 38 CFR § 3.810 — Clothing allowance
• 38 USC § 1162 — Clothing allowance

Forms for This Topic

The official VA forms relevant to this page, in one place. Select a form to view, download, or add it to your report.

• VA Form 21-8678 — VA Form 21-8678 ↗(opens VA.gov in a new tab)