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If your service-connected prosthetic or orthopedic device scuffs, tears, or prematurely wears out your outer garments—or your prescribed skin medication irreparably stains them—you may qualify for the VA Clothing Allowance, a tax-free annual payment.
Effective December 1, 2025, payable starting January 1, 2026, there’s a 2.8% COLA applied to your 2026 VA clothing allowance.
Below you’ll find the updated planning amount, a simple 2026 VA clothing benefits pay chart (including multiple-allowance scenarios), the exact rules behind one vs. two allowances per garment type, filing deadlines, auto-renew, and 10 FAQs.
Let’s go!
Table of Contents
Summary of Key Points
- 2026 VA clothing allowance amount: $1,053.19 (that’s +2.8% over the prior $1,024.50). VA will post the official cents on its Special Benefit Allowances page when updated.
- Deadline: Qualify/apply by August 1 for that year’s payment window. VA issues payments between September 1 and October 31.
- Auto-renew: Since December 29, 2022, most veterans don’t need to reapply annually unless adding a new device/med or if circumstances changed.
- Multiple allowances: Allowed when distinct garment types are affected, and up to two allowances for the same garment type when multiple qualifying items together increase wear/damage (see 38 C.F.R. §3.810).
What Is the VA Clothing Allowance?
The clothing allowance is an annual lump-sum payment for veterans whose service-connected conditions require an appliance (e.g., wheelchair, rigid brace, limb prosthesis) that wears/tears outer garments or a prescribed skin medication that irreparably damages outer garments.
- Legal authority: 38 C.F.R. § 3.810 and 38 U.S.C. §1162.
- Outer garments that count: shirts/blouses and pants/shorts/skirts (and similar).
- Items such as shoes, socks, underwear, hats, and scarves don’t count for this benefit.
- Learn more on VA.gov: VA Clothing Allowance
2026 VA Clothing Allowance Amount (with +2.8% COLA)
VA’s posted clothing allowance for the 2025 cycle (effective December 1, 2024) is $1,024.50 per allowance.
- With the 2026 COLA of +2.8%, the new amount is $1,053.19 per allowance.
- The exact cents finalize when VA updates its Special Benefit Allowances Rates.
- Related reading on VACI: 2026 VA Disability Pay Chart (Official 2.8% COLA)
2026 VA Clothing Allowance Pay Chart
If you qualify for more than one allowance (details below), multiply accordingly:
| Number of Allowances | 2026 VA Clothing Allowance |
|---|---|
| One (1) allowance | $1,053.19 |
| Two (2) allowances | $2,106.37 |
| Three (3) allowances (distinct garment types) | $3,159.56 |
| Four (4) allowances (distinct garment types) | $4,212.74 |
Why these counts differ: You get one allowance per distinct garment type damaged by a qualifying item, and two allowances when multiple qualifying items together increase damage to the same garment type (e.g., both ruin pants).
See 38 C.F.R. §3.810 for the regulatory language.
Eligibility (Who Qualifies)
You may qualify if:
- You have a service-connected disability (or a disability payable under 38 U.S.C. §1151), and
- You use a qualifying prosthetic/orthopedic appliance that tends to wear/tear outer garments or you use a prescribed skin medication that irreparably damages outer garments.
VA’s program page: Clothing Allowance | VA.gov
Multiple Allowances: Exactly How They Work
Plain-English rule:
- Different garment types (e.g., shirts vs. pants): one allowance per qualifying item that damages a distinct garment type.
- Same garment type (e.g., multiple items both ruining pants): the regulation authorizes two allowances for that one garment category when combined wear/tear or staining increases damage.
Authority: 38 C.F.R. §3.810
PSAS guidance and program page: Prosthetic & Sensory Aids Service (Clothing Allowance)
Deadlines, Payment Window, and Auto-Renew
Cutoff and Payment Window
To be paid for the current cycle, you must qualify or submit by August 1.
VA batches applications at the August 1 close and typically issues payments between September 1 and October 31 each year.
Auto-Renew (No Annual Re-file When Unchanged)
Since December 29, 2022 (PL 117-328), VA will pay a recurring clothing allowance each year without a new application when your qualifying devices/medications and circumstances haven’t changed.
File again only if it’s your first time or you’re seeking additional allowances.
Special Reduction Rule (Incarceration)
If you’re incarcerated more than 60 days and clothing is furnished without charge, VA prorates the benefit by 1/365 per day after day 60.
How to Calculate Your 2026 Clothing Allowance
- List each qualifying item (every prosthetic/orthopedic device and prescribed skin medication) and map each one to the garment type it damages (upper vs. lower).
- Count allowances:
- Different garment types → add one allowance per item per distinct garment.
- Same garment type, multiple items together → you may receive two allowances for that single garment type (the “two-for-same-garment” rule).
- Multiply by the 2026 planning amount ($1,053.19 per allowance).
Examples
- Example #1 (two garment types): A shoulder brace ruins shirts and a knee brace ruins pants → 2 allowances → approximately $2,106.37.
- Example #2 (same garment type, combined effect): A knee brace and a topical eczema medication both ruin pants → 2 allowances for that one garment type → approximately $2,106.37.
How to Apply (or Confirm You’re Set for 2026)
Already receiving the allowance (2022/2023 onward) and no changes?
You generally do not need to reapply due to the recurring rule.
First time or seeking an additional allowance?
File VA Form 10-8678 (PDF) with your local VA Prosthetic & Sensory Aids Service (PSAS) by August 1.
You can hand-deliver to PSAS, mail to your VA facility (ATTN: PSAS), use secure messaging via My HealtheVet where supported, or mail to the VA Claims Intake Center (Janesville, WI).
VA also lists fax options.
VA “About the Form” page: About VA Form 10-8678
Evidence Tips
- Ensure the record shows your service-connected diagnosis.
- Show that the qualifying appliance/medication is prescribed for that condition.
- Document the outer garment(s) damaged (upper vs. lower) and how damage occurs (abrasion, tearing, irreparable staining).
Helpful VA Clothing Benefits Resources
Official VA pages:
- Clothing Allowance | VA.gov
- Special Benefit Allowances Rates (current & past)
- Prosthetic & Sensory Aids Service — Clothing Allowance
- About VA Form 10-8678 · Download VA Form 10-8678 (PDF)
- 38 C.F.R. § 3.810 (Regulation)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
#1) Does the clothing allowance really go up 2.8% for 2026?
Yes. Social Security’s COLA for 2026 is +2.8%, and VA aligns its compensation and related special allowances to the same COLA. Plan on ~$1,053.19 per allowance until VA posts the official cents.
#2) What counts as “outer garments,” exactly?
Included: shirts/blouses and pants/shorts/skirts (and similar). Not included: shoes, socks, underwear, hats, and scarves.
#3) Can I get more than one clothing allowance?
Yes. You can receive one allowance per distinct garment type damaged by a qualifying item, and two allowances when multiple qualifying items together increase damage to the same garment type (e.g., both ruin pants).
#4) Do I have to reapply every year?
Generally no. Since 12/29/2022, VA pays recurring annual allowances without a re-file if your qualifying devices/medications haven’t changed. Reapply if it’s your first claim or you want an additional allowance.
#5) What’s the filing deadline and when are payments made?
Submit or qualify by August 1. Payments are typically issued September 1–October 31.
#6) What proof do I need?
Proof that your service-connected condition requires a qualifying appliance that wears/tears clothing or a prescribed skin medication that irreparably damages outer garments. PSAS/clinical certification and VA exam/hospital reports can establish this.
#7) Are stains that come out in the wash covered?
No. The standard is irreparable damage; removable stains via normal laundering/dry cleaning do not meet the bar.
#8) Can VA stop or reduce my allowance?
Yes, if you no longer meet eligibility (e.g., the qualifying device/med was discontinued). VA also prorates the benefit if you’re incarcerated for more than 60 days and clothing is furnished without cost.
#9) I use a rigid brace and a topical med that both destroy pants—how many allowances is that?
That’s the classic two allowances for one garment type scenario. If you also had a device ruining shirts, that could add another (separate garment type).
#10) Where do I get the form and where do I submit it?
Download the application here: VA Form 10-8678. Submit to your local PSAS (in person, by mail, or via My HealtheVet secure messaging where supported) or mail to the VA Claims Intake Center (Janesville, WI). Submit by August 1.
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About the Author
Brian Reese
Brian Reese is a world-renowned VA disability benefits expert and the #1 bestselling author of VA Claim Secrets and You Deserve It. Motivated by his own frustration with the VA claim process, Brian founded VA Claims Insider to help disabled veterans secure their VA disability compensation faster, regardless of their past struggles with the VA. Since 2013, he has positively impacted the lives of over 10 million military, veterans, and their families.
A former active-duty Air Force officer, Brian has extensive experience leading diverse teams in challenging international environments, including a combat tour in Afghanistan in 2011 supporting Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.
Brian is a Distinguished Graduate of Management from the United States Air Force Academy and earned his MBA from Oklahoma State University’s Spears School of Business, where he was a National Honor Scholar, ranking in the top 1% of his class.
