Special Monthly Compensation (SMC): Benefits Beyond the 100% Rate
SMC is extra tax-free compensation for veterans with especially serious disabilities — including the loss of use of a limb or the need for daily aid. Here is how it works.
Most veterans know the compensation scale tops out at 100%. But there is a level above that scale: Special Monthly Compensation (SMC). It pays extra, tax-free amounts for disabilities that are especially serious — and many eligible veterans never apply because they do not know it exists.
What SMC is for
SMC recognizes situations that the normal 0–100% scale does not fully capture, such as:
- Loss, or loss of use, of a hand, foot, eye, or reproductive organ.
- Being housebound — confined to your home because of service-connected disability.
- Needing the regular aid and attendance of another person for daily activities like bathing, dressing, or eating.
The SMC “letters”
SMC comes in levels labeled by letter (SMC-K, S, L, and up through R and beyond). Each letter reflects a more serious situation and a higher payment. Some levels, like SMC-K, are paid on top of your regular compensation rather than replacing it.
Learn the levels
Special Monthly Compensation guide
See each SMC level explained in plain English, with the situations that qualify.
If you care for a spouse who also served
Aid and attendance can also raise the extra amount you receive for a dependent spouse who needs daily care. It is one of several places where SMC quietly adds to a monthly check.
Every figure is an estimate and eligibility is decided by the VA. We are not the VA.
Every figure on this site is an estimate that depends on your specific situation and the VA’s decision. If you’d like a real person to look at your case, Albert Thombs is a VA-accredited claims agent (accreditation #45147). Reviews are free and no-obligation — there’s no pressure and no fee unless we win. This article is general information, not legal advice, and we are not the VA.
