Clothing Allowance White Paper

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration (VHA)

Date: May 24, 2016

From: VHA OMB Liaison (10P7BFP)

Subject: Request for approval of edits to OMB approved collection 2900-0198, VA Form 10-8678, Application for Annual Clothing Allowance. The program office has indicated that the edits create no changes to the estimated burden of 10 minutes to complete the data collection instrument.

Justification for edits:

The VA amended 38 CFR 3.810 and implemented the expansion to pay one or more clothing allowances as outlined in the regulations effective December 16, 2011. Since the implementation, it was determined certain information was unnecessary to collect when determining eligibility and/or entitlement to the benefit. The revised form only request information to assist with either the eligibility and/or entitlement decision made by VA.

The edited VA Form 10-8678, dated June 2015, will replace VA Form 10-8678, February 2012.

Updates VA Form 10-8678 (dated June 2015)

• Edits to all paragraphs on page 1 to reduce / eliminate presumptive language when applying for the clothing allowance benefit. Corrected misspelled words. Clarified misinterpreted statements on when applications should be submitted to Prosthetics & Sensory Aids Services for proper release of payment.

• Paragraph 3: WHAT APPLIANCES ARE INCLUDED? was deleted from 2015 form.

• Paragraph 4: WHAT MEDICATIONS ARE INCLUDED? Was deleted from the 2015 form.

• Paragraph 7: WHEN SHOULD I EXPECT PAYMENT OF THE CLOTHING ALLOWANCE? Was deleted from 2015 form.

• INSTRUCTIONS: was added to page 1.

• 4b. was added to capture Veteran’s email address instead of collecting cell phone number.

• Moved up “Certification” statement to page 1

• Revised “Certification” statement to expand the eligibility / entitlement requirements.

• Added “Acknowledgement” statement to application. Due to IT systems and business rules, Veterans must reapply on an annual basis if they applied and/or received more than one clothing allowance benefit, they should submit the application on or before August 1^st of the calendar year for the year they are applying for.

• Fillable field no. 6, Signature of Veteran and Date, was added on page 1. Moved up from page 2.

• Reduced spacing “FOR VA USE ONLY”. Unnecessary spacing for VA officials when determining eligibility and/or entitlement to the benefit.

• Excluded Item 15.Processing and Generated is the same.

• Existing Stock statement at bottom of page has been removed.