West Virginia DOHS now accepting school clothing allowance applications

WEST VIRGINIA (LOOTPRESS) – The West Virginia Department of Human Services (DoHS), Bureau for Family Assistance (BFA) began accepting school clothing allowance applications on July 1, 2024, for eligible children enrolled in West Virginia schools.

Each eligible student will receive a $200 benefit to purchase appropriate school clothing or fabric for families who sew their children’s clothes.

The program now uses electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards instead of traditional paper vouchers. This allows for online transactions and a wider choice of vendors when buying school clothing or fabric. The EBT cards function like debit cards and can be used at any retailer accepting EBT cash payments. However, parents or guardians of children in foster care will receive the allowance as a check.

Families already receiving WV WORKS assistance, parents/guardians of foster children, and households with school-aged SNAP recipients under 130% of the federal poverty level automatically received the clothing allowance by the end of June. Those who received it in 2023 and have Medicaid coverage should have received a 2024 application by mail in late June.

Others may be eligible if their family of four’s monthly income does not exceed $3,250. Applicants must submit income verification for July 2024 with their application. The provided chart outlines the 2024 income limits.

Families may apply online at wvpath.wv.gov . To request a paper application via mail, families may contact their local DoHS county office or the Office of Constituent Services’ Customer Service Center at 1-877-716-1212 .  Applications must be received by July 31, 2024 .