Delay Ended, WV School Clothing Allowance Program Accepting Applications on July 20th

Normally the WV School Clothing Allowance Program opens on July 1^st every year, however this year the program had been put on pause by the governor’s Office due to uncertainty over the federal Needy Families funding. The WV Department of Human Services (DoHS) has issued a press release saying those funds are now available, and the DoHS’s Bureau for Family Assistance will begin accepting school clothing allowance applications on Monday, July 20, 2026 up until August 15, 2026, or until the funds for the program are fully allocated – so apply soon.

Applications can be made online at: www.wvpath.wv.gov  people may also request a paper application be mailed to them by calling 1-877-716-1212 or by visiting their local DOHS office. In Pocahontas County the DOHS Child support Offices are located at 211 Valhalla Lane, Marlinton, WV 24954, with a phone number of 304-799-2540 and at 704 third Avenue, Marlinton, WV 24954 -phone number 304-799-6032.

This program is available for eligible children enrolled in West Virginia Schools. Eligible children will each receive a $200 benefit that can be used toward the purchase of appropriate school clothing or piece goods for families who sew clothing for their children.

To be eligible, the monthly income for a family of four may not exceed $3,483 (which equates to an annual income of $41,796.) The income limits for household sizes of more or less than the four-person household example vary. You can view the table for the income limits for different sized households below:

Income Limits

1 person in household -$1,696

2 people in household -$2,292

3 people in household -$3,288

4 people in household -$3,483

5 people in household -$4,079

6 people in household -$4,675

7 people in household -$5,271

8 people in household -$5,867

9 people in household -$6,463

10 people in household -$7,059

Plus $596 for additional people

Clothing allowance recipients will receive their clothing payments on their electronic benefit transfer card (EBT card,) it will work like a debit card and can be used at any retailer that accepts EBT cards. However, guardians of children in foster care will receive their benefits by check, not EBT card.

If you will be applying and need to update your address, you may call DoHS’s Customer Care Center at 1-877-716-1212.