VA SMC rates for 2026, effective December 1, 2025, range from $4,408.53 a month for SMC-S and $4,900.83 for SMC-L up to $11,271.67 for SMC-R.2 and SMC-T for a veteran with no dependents. Each SMC-K award adds $139.87. This VA SMC rates calculator finds your monthly special monthly compensation from VA's rate tables for your SMC level and dependents. It also adds SMC-K and applies the statutory limits on how far SMC-K can raise the higher levels.
Special monthly compensation (SMC) is a higher rate of VA disability compensation for veterans with very serious service-connected disabilities, such as the loss or loss of use of limbs, blindness, being bedridden or needing another person's help with daily life. Like other VA disability compensation, it is paid tax free.
| SMC level | Monthly rate | SMC level | Monthly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMC-L | $4,900.83 | SMC-N 1/2 | $6,514.00 |
| SMC-L 1/2 | $5,154.00 | SMC-O / P | $6,877.12 |
| SMC-M | $5,408.55 | SMC-R.1 | $9,826.88 |
| SMC-M 1/2 | $5,780.00 | SMC-R.2 / T | $11,271.67 |
| SMC-N | $6,152.64 | SMC-S | $4,408.53 |
With a spouse, SMC-L is $5,120.42, SMC-M is $5,628.14, SMC-N is $6,372.23, SMC-O/P is $7,096.71, SMC-R.1 is $10,046.47, SMC-R.2/T is $11,491.26 and SMC-S is $4,628.12. VA publishes separate columns for a spouse with one or two dependent parents, for dependent parents alone, and for each of these combinations with one child; the calculator uses all of them. For example, SMC-L is $5,296.66 with a spouse and one dependent parent, $5,472.90 with a spouse and two parents, and $5,077.07 or $5,253.31 with one or two parents and no spouse.
| Added amount | Monthly | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| SMC-K | $139.87 | Added for each qualifying loss, 1 to 3 awards; not added to SMC-O, SMC-Q or SMC-R |
| Each additional child under 18 | $109.11 | The rate "with 1 child" already covers one child |
| Each child 18 to 23 in school | $352.45 | Paid for each school child |
| Spouse receiving aid and attendance | $201.41 | Added when your spouse needs aid and attendance |
| SMC-Q | $67.00 | Protected rate not awarded since August 19, 1968 |
SMC-K can also be added to a regular disability rating from 0% to 100%. Federal law limits it: with SMC-L through SMC-N, the total with SMC-K may not exceed the SMC-O rate, and with basic compensation or SMC-S it may not exceed the SMC-L rate. In practice this matters for SMC-N 1/2: three SMC-K awards would pass the O rate, so the total stops at $6,877.12 for a veteran alone.
| SMC level | Spouse and 1 child | 1 child, no spouse |
|---|---|---|
| SMC-L | $5,281.24 | $5,047.68 |
| SMC-M | $5,788.96 | $5,555.40 |
| SMC-N | $6,533.05 | $6,299.49 |
| SMC-O / P | $7,257.53 | $7,023.97 |
| SMC-R.1 | $10,207.29 | $9,973.73 |
| SMC-R.2 / T | $11,652.08 | $11,418.52 |
| SMC-S | $4,788.94 | $4,555.38 |
VA adjusts these rates every year by the same percentage as the Social Security cost-of-living increase; the rates on this page took effect December 1, 2025.
Under 38 U.S.C. 1114(k), SMC-K is paid for each anatomical loss or loss of use of a creative organ, one foot or one hand, loss of both buttocks, blindness of one eye having only light perception, complete organic aphonia with constant inability to communicate by speech, or deafness of both ears with absence of air and bone conduction. For women veterans, it also covers the loss of 25 percent or more of breast tissue from one or both breasts, including by mastectomy, or radiation treatment of breast tissue.
SMC-S housebound status. The housebound test for SMC-S is met when the veteran is substantially confined to the house (or ward or clinical areas if institutionalized) or immediate premises because of service-connected disabilities that are reasonably certain to remain throughout the veteran's lifetime.
SMC-R.2 higher level of care. R.2 is paid when VA finds that, without daily personal health care services in the home from a licensed provider or someone supervised by one, the veteran would need hospitalization, nursing home care or other residential institutional care.
VA's tables for veterans with children start from a rate that already includes one child. Add $109.11 for each other child under 18 and $352.45 for each child 18 to 23 in a qualifying school program. Federal law pays the school amount on account of each child 18 or older in school. So when your only child is 18 to 23 and in school, the calculator uses the rate without children and adds $352.45. A child counts only while he or she meets VA's dependency rules, and you must add dependents to your VA file to be paid for them.
SMC is part of VA disability compensation, not a lawsuit award. If your service-connected injury also led to a claim against someone else, the settlement and SMC are separate questions. For a rating estimate, see our VA disability calculator. Families of veterans who died from service-connected conditions can check VA DIC rates. For catastrophic injury claims, see our amputation settlement calculator and spinal cord injury settlement calculator.
For a veteran with no dependents, effective December 1, 2025: SMC-L $4,900.83, SMC-L 1/2 $5,154.00, SMC-M $5,408.55, SMC-M 1/2 $5,780.00, SMC-N $6,152.64, SMC-N 1/2 $6,514.00, SMC-O/P $6,877.12, SMC-R.1 $9,826.88, SMC-R.2/T $11,271.67 and SMC-S $4,408.53.
$139.87 a month for each award, with 1 to 3 awards possible. It is added to basic compensation and to SMC rates except SMC-O, SMC-Q and SMC-R.
$5,120.42 a month with a spouse and no dependent parents or children, or $5,281.24 with a spouse and one child.
SMC-R.2 and SMC-T: $11,271.67 a month for a veteran alone, rising to $12,004.56 with a spouse, one child and two dependent parents, before amounts for additional children.
Yes, but federal law caps the total with SMC-K at the SMC-O rate, so a veteran alone at SMC-N 1/2 cannot receive more than $6,877.12 with SMC-K.
VA's rate with 1 child covers one child; add $109.11 for each other child under 18 and $352.45 for each child 18 to 23 in a qualifying school program.
No. VA describes disability compensation, which includes SMC, as a tax-free monthly payment.