Annual Clothing Allowance

Eligibility (38 U.S.C. § 1162): NOT based on a disability rating threshold. You qualify if you use a prosthetic or orthopedic appliance (including a wheelchair) for a service-connected disability AND VA determines it tends to wear out or tear your clothing; OR you use medication prescribed by a physician for a service-connected skin condition that VA determines causes irreparable damage to your outer garments.

$1,053.19 paid annually as a single lump sum (2026 rate, effective December 1, 2025). Multiple allowances are possible if you have more than one qualifying prosthetic/orthopedic appliance or more than one qualifying skin medication. Annual lump-sum payments are issued between September 1 and October 31 each year.

File VA Form 10-8678 (Application for Annual Clothing Allowance) at the Prosthetics Department of your local VA Medical Center. Must qualify by August 1 of the year claimed. Veterans approved for a recurring annual allowance generally do not need to reapply each year.

Your VA clinician or prosthetics department must verify that your device or medication damages clothing. Covered "clothing" includes shirts, pants, jackets, and similar outer garments — shoes, hats, underwear, socks, and accessories are not covered.