The VA clothing allowance is an annual payment authorized under 38 CFR 3.810 for veterans who use a prosthetic or orthopedic device, or who have a service-connected skin condition, that causes wear or tear to clothing. It is paid once per year, typically in August, and eligibility is usually established either automatically by a VA examiner's finding during a compensation and pension exam or by a veteran filing a claim for it directly.
Because the clothing allowance is processed through the same benefit payment system as disability compensation, the deposit often appears in a bank account as a generic VA payment rather than being separately labeled "clothing allowance." This is a common source of confusion, since the VA.gov and VA mobile app payment history pages do not always break out the clothing allowance as its own line item, and in some cases it can take time before it is reflected at all in the payment history tool, even after the deposit has already hit a bank account.
Official 2026 VA monthly compensation, including the 2.8% COLA increase.
Dependent add-ons start at a 30% rating. Child-only and dependent-parent rates: see the full 2026 pay chart.
| Rating | Monthly (2026, incl. 2.8% COLA) |
|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 |
| 30% | $552.47 |
| 40% | $795.84 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 |
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Analyze my claim free →To confirm whether a specific deposit is the clothing allowance, the most reliable method is to compare the deposit amount and date against the veteran's regular monthly compensation deposit. If the amount does not match the usual monthly compensation payment and arrives around the annual clothing allowance disbursement window, it is likely the clothing allowance rather than a compensation adjustment or retroactive payment. A veteran can also check for a clothing allowance decision letter, which the VA typically sends either through the mail or to the veteran's VA.gov correspondence inbox, confirming eligibility and the amount awarded for that year.
If no letter can be found and the payment history in the app still does not reflect the deposit, the safest way to verify the source of the funds is to contact the VA directly. The VA National Call Center can confirm the nature of a specific deposit, and a veteran can also request a benefit verification letter through VA.gov, which sometimes itemizes special payments like the clothing allowance separately from standard compensation.
A veteran unsure about an unlabeled deposit should call the VA at 1-800-827-1000 and ask a representative to identify the specific payment tied to that deposit date and amount, or check for a corresponding award letter in the VA.gov correspondence section.
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