Part 16 Clothing Allowance

Clothing Allowance may be paid to an eligible veteran, Member of the Forces, or member of a Peacekeeping Force for wear and tear and damage to clothing resulting from war or defence-caused disabilities, or the treatment of those disabilities. For example, damage may be caused by the wearing of surgical aids and appliances.

To be eligible for a Clothing Allowance, the person must be in receipt of a disability pension for incapacity from a specific war-caused or defence-caused incapacity. The rate payable depends on the type of incapacity. Clothing Allowance may be paid at the high, middle or low rates.

The high rate of Clothing Allowance is payable where a person:

• has one arm and one leg amputated, or    
• has a certain specified condition (one leg or one arm amputated; both legs or both arms amputated; or one leg amputated, causing essential hip disarticulation) and is required to use a crutch or crutches in addition to any artificial aid.

The middle rate of Clothing Allowance is payable where a person has:

• both legs or both arms amputated, or
• one leg amputated, causing essential hip disarticulation.

The low rate of Clothing Allowance is payable where a person:

• has one leg or one arm amputated,
• is blinded in both eyes, or     
• has a war or defence-caused injury or disease of another kind which causes exceptional wear and tear or damage to clothing.

If a person is granted Clothing Allowance for one of the specified conditions and is also granted Clothing Allowance at the low rate for an “other” condition (see above), the two amounts payable are added together.

Payment of Clothing Allowance under the VEA is excluded income for income support purposes.