Clothing

MSD must check if the client qualifies for Disability Allowance for additional clothing costs.

If the client qualifies for Disability Allowance, it must be granted before MSD assess if the client qualifies for Temporary Additional Support.

The client may have allowable health and disability costs for Temporary Additional Support where they do not qualify for Disability Allowance because:

• they do not meet the Disability Allowance income limit or
• their disability will last less than 6 months or
• they are certain refugees, protected persons or residence applicants

Allowable costs for Temporary Additional Support can include additional clothing costs that a client has because of their disability.

For example, additional costs may arise because of:

• greater frequency of washing or
• wear and tear resulting from use of a prosthetic aid (e.g. artificial limb or splints) or wheelchair or
• the need to have clothes or shoes made-to-measure

If the clothing is made to measure, the amount of the allowable costs is the difference between having an item made-to-measure and buying normal clothing items through a shop.

Note allowable costs do not include the normal clothing costs for a client.

A registered medical practitioner or nurse practitioner must complete a Disability Allowance medical certificate confirming the client's disability, need for treatment and that clothing is necessary. The certificate must also confirm the treatment is beneficial and of therapeutic value and that the costs are:

• additional and
• ongoing and
• directly related to the client's disability

The client must provide:

• a Disability Allowance medical certificate completed and signed by a registered medical practitioner or nurse practitioner and
• receipts or quotes showing the extra costs of the clothing

If the clothing is made-to-measure, the client must provide evidence of how much more it costs than buying a normal item through a shop.

The issue of clothing is not always straightforward and needs to be treated with sensitivity. It can be difficult to quantify their additional costs. MSD should assess clients on a case-by-case basis.