West Virginia is giving 54,000 low-income families a $200 school clothing allowance per eligible child, after securing funding amid uncertainty over federal aid.

The program opened July 20, 2026. Governor Patrick Morrisey said the state put the program “on solid footing” after COVID-era one-time money ran out. Applications closed August 15.

Each child gets $200 on an EBT card for school clothing or fabric for families who sew. A family of four must earn under $3,483 a month to qualify.

In a new twist, children who never applied received the money automatically this year. The program is a lifeline as back-to-school costs climb.

Advocates say the allowance helps families in one of America’s poorest states, where back-to-school spending strains household budgets. This year’s automatic payments were designed to reach families who missed the application window.

The program has run for decades under the state Department of Human Services, which administers it alongside other assistance for low-income households with children.