Bill Overview
Title: Mark O’Brien VA Clothing Allowance Improvement Act
Description: This bill modifies the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) clothing allowance policy for veterans who, due to a service-connected disability, wear a prosthetic, use an orthopedic appliance (e.g., a wheelchair), or use a prescription skin medication that the VA determines causes irreparable damage to clothing. The bill requires the VA to continue the clothing allowance for such a veteran on an annual basis until the veteran elects to no longer receive the allowance, or the VA determines the veteran is no longer eligible for the allowance, whichever occurs first. The bill sets forth a procedure by which the VA must conduct reviews of clothing allowance claims to determine the continued eligibility of veterans. Specifically, the VA must conduct a review (1) five years after the date on which a veteran initially receives a clothing allowance and periodically thereafter, and (2) whenever the VA receives notice that the veteran no longer meets eligibility requirements. If a veteran is eligible for a clothing allowance based on a circumstance that is not subject to change, the VA does not need to review whether the veteran has continued eligibility. If the VA determines, as the result of a review of a claim, that a veteran no longer meets the eligibility requirements for a clothing allowance, the VA must provide notice of the determination and discontinue the clothing allowance. The notice must include a description of applicable actions that may be taken following the determination (e.g., filing a notice of disagreement). The bill also extends certain loan fee rates through January 15, 2031, under the VA's home loan program.
Sponsors: Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49]
Target Audience
Population: Veterans with VA Clothing Allowance due to service-connected disability
Estimated Size: 100000
- The bill is aimed at veterans who receive a VA clothing allowance.
- This applies to veterans with service-connected disabilities requiring prosthetics, orthopedic appliances, or prescription skin medications that damage clothing.
- According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, there are millions of veterans in the U.S., but not all qualify based on these specific needs.
- Assuming a small subset of veterans qualify for the clothing allowance, this would still affect thousands annually.
Reasoning
- The policy focuses on veterans who are specifically impacted by wearing prosthetics or using appliances that could damage their clothing.
- Only a subset of veterans would be eligible based on the criteria, estimated to be about 100,000 individuals who require some type of clothing allowance due to service-connected issues.
- The policy aims to provide continuity for these veterans and potentially improve their quality of life by reducing financial burden.
- The limitation of an $8,000,000 budget in the first year suggests a need to carefully allocate resources, possibly focusing on those with higher needs within the criteria.
- The policy also includes a mechanism for reviewing eligibility over time, which could impact the extent of the benefit to individuals.
Simulated Interviews
Retired Veteran (Texas)
Age: 67 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is beneficial as it ensures continued support for those of us who rely on these allowances.
- I've had issues with damaged clothing because of my prosthetic leg, and constant repairs or replacements get expensive.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 2 |
Veteran, Part-time Worker (California)
Age: 54 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The continued clothing allowance is a relief. My wheelchair wears down clothes faster than you'd think.
- I hope the review process is smooth and doesn't add stress to receiving the benefit.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 2 |
Disabled Veteran (Florida)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've been paying out of pocket for so long for clothes that get stained by my creams.
- The allowance makes a significant difference in my monthly budget.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 3 |
Veteran, Volunteer (New York)
Age: 72 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 20/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The clothing wear and tear from my brace is frustrating, and this policy provides necessary financial relief.
- The periodic reviews are concerning, as I feel my needs won't change.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 2 |
Retired Nurse, Veteran (Ohio)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm hoping this policy will ease some of the financial burden for clothing replacements due to my orthopedic shoes.
- It's essential that the allowance continues without too much bureaucratic interference.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 2 |
Veteran, Consultant (Virginia)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Continued support is crucial, especially for those still trying to work and manage disabilities.
- I worry about possible changes after periodic reviews but overall, it's a great step.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Veteran, Educator (Illinois)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The allowance is crucial to manage clothing replacements. It's a significant support.
- The review mechanism needs transparency to ensure continued support without unnecessary termination.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 2 |
Veteran, Programmer (Washington)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy offers peace of mind in handling the clothes damaged by skin meds.
- Regular reviews are necessary, but I hope they are fair and considerate.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 2 |
Retired Veteran (Georgia)
Age: 62 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 12.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Managing clothing damage from my scooter on my fixed income has been hard.
- This allowance is a significant help, and I'm relieved it continues without frequent reassessment.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 2 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 1 |
Veteran, Small Business Owner (Michigan)
Age: 47 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The allowance will certainly help as my footwear is often affected.
- I hope to see no reduction in support through review processes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 2 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $8000000 (Low: $7000000, High: $9000000)
Year 2: $8100000 (Low: $7100000, High: $9100000)
Year 3: $8200000 (Low: $7200000, High: $9200000)
Year 5: $8300000 (Low: $7300000, High: $9300000)
Year 10: $8500000 (Low: $7500000, High: $9500000)
Year 100: $10000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $12000000)
Key Considerations
- The number of eligible veterans for the clothing allowance is likely to fluctuate due to periodic eligibility reviews.
- Administrative costs for processing and reviewing claims may increase initially but stabilize over time.
- The extension of loan fee rates adds a layer of complexity but offers potential revenue offsets.