VA’s clothing allowance is an annual sum of money paid to veterans with service-connected disabilities who have clothing that is damaged by their prosthetic or orthopedic devices (such as a wheelchair) or by medicine they are taking for a skin condition. Veterans must apply for clothing allowance with their local VA medical center by August 1 each year.

The requirement to reapply annually is burdensome for VA and veterans alike. We believe all veterans with static conditions should not be required to reapply each year. Instead, their annual payments should automatically renew once their eligibility and the permanent status of their condition has been established.

PVA Position: 

Congress should pass S. 2513, the Brian Neuman VA Clothing Allowance Improvement Act and H.R. 4772, the Mark O'Brien VA Clothing Allowance Improvement Act, which would make clothing allowance payments automatic until VA determines the veteran is no longer eligible to receive the benefit or wants to receive it.

Please take a few minutes and ask your members of Congress to cosponsor this important legislation. Also, please share this advocacy opportunity with other veterans, friends, and family and encourage them to send messages of their own.