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For those whose service-connected condition(s) permanently damage clothing, the VA will pay a yearly tax-free stipend to help offset the costs of buying new clothing.

Benefit

Clothing allowances can be paid once or annually.

  • Click Here to see the current allowance amount.

Eligibility

Veterans who wear or use a prescribed prosthetic, orthopedic appliance, and/or skin medication for a service connected disability that causes:

  • Excessive wear/tear of clothing; or

  • Skin medication causes irreparable staining to your outer-garments.

The VA has established the following lists for which equipment and medications fit the above criteria:

For the purposes of this benefit the VA ONLY considers the following clothing:

  • Blouses;

  • Pants;

  • Shirts;

  • Shorts;

  • Skirts and similar garments.

The following are explicitly NOT covered:

  • Hats;

  • Scarves,

  • Shoes;

  • Socks;

  • Underwear and similar garments.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

  • You CAN be entitled to multiple clothing allowances! So long as the qualifying appliances wear or tear MORE THAN ONE type of article of clothing AND/OR medications MUST irreparably damage MORE THAN ONE type of clothing or outer-garment.

  • Veterans who are incarcerated in a Federal, State, or local penal institution for over 60 days AND the institution provides clothing without cost:

    • Will have their clothing allowance reduced by X/365 for each day they are incarcerated - starting from the 61st day.

Applying

To apply for a clothing allowance, complete the following steps:

  1. Complete VA Form 10-8678.

  2. Submit the form to the VA NO LATER THAN August 1! If you submit the form later then it will be considered next year!

    • Meaning if it is August 2, 2025, you are filing for 2026, etc.

There are several ways to submit the form to the VA:

  • Online: My HealtheVet - Submit via the secure messaging feature to your Prosthetic & Sensory aids Service (PSAS).

  • In-Person: Turn the form in at your Local PSAS.

  • Fax: USA: 844-531-7818 OUTSIDE USA: 248-524-4260

  • Mail 1:

  • Mail 2:

    • Department of Veterans Affairs

    • Claims Intake Center

    • PO Box 4444

    • Janesville, WI 53547-4444

IMPORTANT NOTE:

  • Effective December 29, 2022, once you’ve been granted the benefit once, you do NOT need to reapply (so long as your medications/conditions are unchanged)! If you feel you are entitled to another allowance you can of course file for the new allowance(s).

Frequently Asked Questions

    • No, the program is run by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). As such, the your application will NOT come across the desk of a rater!

    • 4 different allowances in a year.