Current special benefit allowances rates

Current rates

Automobile allowance

Effective October 1, 2024

If you have a service-connected disability that prevents you from driving, we may pay up to $26,417.20 toward a specially equipped vehicle for you.

Note: The seller of the specially equipped vehicle needs to submit a claim to us. Then we pay them a one-time payment directly.

Find out if you can get an automobile allowance

Clothing allowance

Effective December 1, 2023

If a skin medicine, prosthetic, or orthopedic device related to your service-connected disability damages your clothes, we may pay you $999.51 to replace the damaged clothes. This may be a one-time payment or we may pay this amount once a year.

Note: You’ll need to submit your application on or before August 1, 2024, to get a clothing allowance for this year. 

Find out if you can get a clothing allowance

Medal of Honor pension

Effective December 1, 2023

If you’ve received the Medal of Honor, we may pay you an additional $1,671.16 each month. 

Note: We adjust the Medal of Honor pension to make sure your benefits keep up with inflation. These adjustments match the percentage of cost-of-living adjustments for your Social Security benefits.

Find information about the cost-of-living adjustment on the Social Security Administration’s website

Past rates

Check special allowances rates for past years.

2023 rates (effective October 1, 2022, for automobile allowance; effective December 1, 2022, for clothing allowance and Medal of Honor pension)
2022 rates (effective October 1, 2021, for automobile allowance; effective December 1, 2021, for clothing allowance and Medal of Honor pension)
2021 rates (effective October 1, 2020, for automobile allowance; effective December 1, 2020, for clothing allowance and Medal of Honor pension) 
2020 rates (effective October 1, 2019, for automobile allowance; effective December 1, 2019, for clothing allowance and Medal of Honor pension) 
2019 rates (effective October 1, 2018, for automobile allowance; effective December 1, 2018, for clothing allowance and Medal of Honor pension) 
2018 rates (effective October 1, 2017, for automobile allowance; effective December 1, 2017, for clothing allowance and Medal of Honor pension)