Are you a veteran with disabilities looking for support to cover the expenses of clothing related to your condition?
The VA Clothing Allowance might just be the assistance you need.
In 2024, the VA Clothing Allowance remains a financial resource for eligible veterans. This allowance aims to reduce the financial burden by providing support tailored to cover essential clothing requirements arising from service-connected disabilities.
In this post, we’ll break down the VA disability clothing allowance for 2024, look at the VA clothing allowance deadline, and show you the correct form needed to apply.
You DESERVE a HIGHER VA rating.
WE CAN HELP.
Take advantage of a FREE VA Claim Discovery Call with an experienced Team Member. Learn what you’ve been missing so you can FINALLY get the disability rating and compensation you’ve earned for your service.
What is the VA Clothing Allowance?
The VA Clothing Allowance is a benefit provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to help veterans who wear or use a prescribed prosthetic, orthopedic appliance, or skin medication for a service-connected disability that causes damages or irreparable staining to outer garments.
Qualifying for the VA Clothing Allowance
Veterans with service-related disabilities or injuries may be eligible for fixed monetary assistance from the VA to address their specialized clothing requirements.
If your clothing has experienced wear or tear due to prosthetic devices, orthopedics, or medications used to treat service-connected illnesses, you may meet the criteria.
Eligibility Criteria and the VA Clothing Allowance Deadline
Specific eligibility conditions outlined by the VA include:
- Prosthetic or orthopedic devices (e.g., wheelchairs, crutches) necessitated by a service-connected disability (Please note: soft and flexible devices like elastic stockings are not covered).
- Physician-prescribed medication for a service-connected skin condition causing permanent stains or damage to outer garments.
The rate undergoes an annual review, with the current clothing allowance set at $999.51 per year. To receive this benefit for the year, applications must be submitted by August 1st.
It’s important to note that if you have multiple service-related disabilities, you could be eligible for more than one clothing allowance.
For instance, having multiple prosthetic devices or a combination of a prosthetic and a skin condition may entitle you to more than one clothing allowance if you meet at least one of the requirements listed below.
To qualify for a VA annual clothing allowance, at least one of these must be true:
- You have more than one prosthetic or orthopedic device or
- You have more than one skin medicine and/or
- Your device or skin medicine affects more than one type of clothing.
Damages from clothing have to be permanent and not something that can be removed. For example, a stain that can be removed through dry cleaning does not count.
The VA Clothing Allowance Form (VA Form 10-8678)
Applying for the VA disability clothing allowance requires filling out VA Form 10-8678.
This form gathers essential information about the veteran’s disabilities, the necessity for specialized clothing, and other pertinent details required for the assessment of eligibility.
The VA reviews the application and supporting documents to determine eligibility and process the allowance accordingly.
The current VA annual clothing allowance rate is $999.51. Here is how to get your yearly payment.
You will need to apply by August 1 of the year you are applying for.
Most payments are received between September 1st and October 31st of the current year.
Creating the VA Clothing Allowance List
Creating a detailed list of the required clothing or items is crucial while applying for this benefit.
Veterans should document the specific clothing needs related to their disabilities to ensure accurate assessment and allocation of the allowance.
Receiving the Annual Clothing Allowance
Once approved, eligible veterans receive the VA annual clothing allowance, assisting them in covering the expenses associated with specialized clothing needs due to their service-connected disabilities.
Conclusion
The VA disability clothing allowance is a vital resource for veterans with service-connected disabilities, aiding them in managing the costs of specialized clothing and related necessities.
Remember, meeting the application deadline and accurately documenting the required clothing items are key factors in successfully accessing this beneficial allowance.
For veterans facing the challenges of service-related disabilities, the VA Clothing Allowance stands as a supportive measure, offering financial aid to help meet essential clothing needs.
Apply within the designated time frame using VA Form 10-8678 and ensure a comprehensive list of necessary items for a smoother and more efficient application process.
As of now, the VA clothing allowance remains a crucial avenue of support for eligible veterans, assisting them in addressing their specific clothing needs arising from service-related disabilities.
NEED MORE ASSISTANCE?
Most veterans are underrated for their disabilities and, therefore, not getting their due compensation. At VA Claims Insider, we help you understand and take control of the claims process so you can get the rating and compensation you’re owed by law.
Our process takes the guesswork out of filing a VA disability claim and supports you every step of the way in building a fully-developed claim (FDC)—so you can increase your rating FAST!
If you’ve filed your VA disability claim and have been denied or have received a low rating—or you’re unsure how to get started—reach out to us! Take advantage of a FREE VA Claim Discovery Call. Learn what you’ve been missing—so you can FINALLY get the disability rating and compensation YOU DESERVE!
Brian Reese
Brian Reese is one of the top VA disability benefits experts in the world and bestselling author of You Deserve It: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Veteran Benefits You’ve Earned (Second Edition).
Brian’s frustration with the VA claim process led him to create VA Claims Insider, which provides disabled veterans with tips, strategies, and lessons learned to win their VA disability compensation claim, faster, even if they’ve already filed, been denied, gave up, or don’t know where to start.
As the founder of VA Claims Insider and CEO of Military Disability Made Easy, he has helped serve more than 10 million military members and veterans since 2013 through free online educational resources.
He is a former active duty Air Force officer with extensive experience leading hundreds of individuals and multi-functional teams in challenging international environments, including a combat tour to Afghanistan in 2011 supporting Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.
Brian is a Distinguished Graduate of Management from the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO, and he holds an MBA from Oklahoma State University’s Spears School of Business, Stillwater, OK, where he was a National Honor Scholar (Top 1% of Graduate School class).
