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If a prosthetic or orthopedic device, or a skin medicine, that you use for a service-connected condition wears out or stains your clothes, VA pays a yearly clothing allowance to help replace them. It is one of the most overlooked VA benefits. A knee brace, a back brace, a wheelchair or a prescription skin cream can all qualify.
The short version
- $1,053.19 a year, the rate in effect from December 1, 2025, with additional allowances possible.
- For a device (artificial limb, brace, wheelchair and similar) or skin medicine that damages your clothing, used for a service-connected condition.
- You must qualify by August 1 to be paid that year. Payments go out between September 1 and October 31.
- If you were paid in 2022 or 2023, you do not need to reapply each year.
- Apply online or with VA Form 10-8678.
On this page
Who qualifies for the clothing allowance
You need a VA disability claim on file and both of these:
- One of these is true: – Your prosthetic or orthopedic device damages your clothes, or – Your skin medicine causes damage to your outer clothing (like pants or a shirt) that cannot be repaired.
- You need the device or medicine because of a service-connected condition.
Common examples are knee and back braces, artificial limbs, wheelchairs, and medicated creams or ointments for service-connected skin conditions.
If your condition is not service connected yet, that claim comes first. See how to file a VA disability claim.
How much it pays
| Allowance | Amount |
|---|---|
| Clothing allowance | $1,053.19, effective December 1, 2025 |
VA may pay this as a one-time payment or once a year. You may get more than one allowance in a year if any of these is true:
- You use more than one prosthetic or orthopedic device.
- You use more than one skin medicine.
- Your device or medicine damages more than one type of clothing.
The August 1 deadline
VA collects clothing allowance applications all year and decides them together. To be paid for a given year, you must qualify by August 1 of that year. If you do, payment arrives between September 1 and October 31.
Do I have to apply every year? If you received a clothing allowance payment in 2022 or 2023, you no longer need to reapply to keep getting the yearly payment. You do need to apply if you want an additional allowance, for example for a new device.
VA can stop or reduce the payment if you no longer meet the requirements.
How to apply
You can apply four ways:
- Online at VA.gov.
- By mail: send VA Form 10-8678, Application for Annual Clothing Allowance, to Department of Veterans Affairs, Claims Intake Center, PO Box 4444, Janesville, WI 53547-4444.
- At your VA medical center: give the form to the prosthetic representative.
- By fax, using the number on VA’s clothing allowance page.
Have ready your personal details, the service-connected condition involved, and each device or skin medicine you use and what it damages.
Common mistakes
- Not applying because a brace seems minor. A brace for a service-connected knee or back counts.
- Missing August 1. Apply early in the year so you are not waiting until the following year.
- Claiming only one item. Each separate device or medicine, and each type of clothing damaged, can mean an additional allowance.
Related benefits
- VA automobile allowance and adaptive equipment
- VA housing grants
- Knee and back ratings, two of the conditions most often treated with braces
Free printable checklist. Everything to gather before you file, what to bring to your C&P exam, and what to check in your decision, on two pages.
Last reviewed October 2026. This guide is general educational information, not legal or medical advice, and this site is not affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Rules and rates change. Confirm details on VA.gov or with an accredited representative. See our disclaimer and editorial policy.