West Virginia to launch school clothing allowance program

KANAWHA COUNTY, W.Va. (WOWK) – The school clothing allowance program will soon be open to eligible children for the upcoming school year.

The West Virginia Department of Human Services will begin to accept applications for eligible children enrolled in West Virginia schools starting on Monday, July 20.

Applications can be found HERE or by requesting a paper application be mailed to them by contacting the DOHS office. They will be accepted until August 15, or until available funds are fully allocated.

Each eligible child will receive a $200 benefit that may be used toward the purchase of appropriate school clothing or piece goods for families who sew clothing for their children.

The monthly income for a family of four for the school clothing program may not exceed $3,483.

The program’s future was uncertain due to the state’s federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funding. Governor Patrick Morrisey announced that West Virginia has ensured that the funding needed to open the program for families this year will be available.

“We are doing this the right way, and we’re working to make funding streams last. COVID-era reliance on one-time money helped create these challenges, so now we are working to put this program on solid footing. Starting July 20, West Virginia families can apply for the School Clothing Allowance,” said Governor Patrick Morrisey.

The School clothing allowance program recipients will receive payments on their EBT cards. This will allow for both online transactions and an increased choice of vendors when purchasing school clothing. The EBT card will operate like a debit card and can be used at any retailer who accepts EBT cash transactions.

Parents or guardians of children in foster care will receive the school clothing allowance benefit as a check.