Check if you may qualify for Special Monthly Compensation
Special Monthly Compensation is an additional payment VA makes on top of the basic disability rating when service-connected conditions produce specific severe losses or combinations. It is authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 1114† and implemented through 38 CFR § 3.350†. SMC is paid separately from, and in many cases in addition to, the schedular combined rating.
Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) Screener
Based on SMC statutory rates and qualifying conditions at 38 U.S.C. § 111438 U.S.C. § 1114† and 38 CFR § 3.35038 CFR § 3.350†. This page is a free community resource. We are not VA-accredited and do not file claims or provide legal advice (per 38 U.S.C. § 5904).
Last reviewed: April 2026 · Next review: October 2026
Maintained by: Veterans Benefits Navigator editorial team. Every citation links to a primary federal or state source. See editorial standards and our privacy posture.
SMC is an additional compensation paid on top of the schedular rating for certain combinations of service-connected disabilities or specific anatomical losses. Eligibility is technical and commonly missed. Answer what you can, "Not sure" is a valid answer.
Question 1 of 7 · about 3 minutes left
Do you have ONE service-connected disability rated 100% on its own (not a combined 100%)?
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Do you have a separate service-connected disability (or combination) rated 60% or more, independent of the 100% condition?
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Are you permanently housebound, substantially confined to your home, because of your service-connected conditions?
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Do you need regular aid and attendance from another person for basic daily activities (bathing, dressing, feeding, toileting, or protection from hazards)?
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What SMC is
SMC is not a rating percentage. It is a flat monthly amount tied to a tier letter (K, L, L½, M, M½, N, N½, O, P, R, S). The amount depends on the tier and the veteran’s dependent status. Some tiers replace the basic compensation rate; the K rate is added on top of any basic rating. Because SMC rules depend on specific anatomical or functional losses and on how disabilities combine, two veterans with identical combined ratings can qualify for very different SMC outcomes.
The tier ladder at a glance
Tier
Trigger
Read more
SMC-K
Loss or loss of use of a creative organ, one foot, one hand, or both buttocks; deafness; blindness; or certain breast tissue loss.
Paid when a veteran is permanently housebound under § 3.350(i), either because of a single 100% disability plus additional 60% disabilities or substantial confinement to the residence.
Anatomical loss or loss of use: Amputation, or a condition so severe the limb functions as if it were amputated.
Aid and attendance: The veteran regularly needs help with bathing, dressing, feeding, or protecting themselves from daily hazards (§ 3.352).
Housebound: The veteran is substantially confined to the immediate premises.
Blindness: Light perception or worse in both eyes, or specific visual-field losses.
100% + 60% combination: A single disability rated 100% plus separate disabilities combining to 60% may qualify for SMC-S.
What this screener is (and what it isn’t)
The screener below walks through the common SMC triggers and flags the tier(s) you may be eligible to discuss with a representative. It does not file a claim, rate your disabilities, or guarantee an outcome. Only a VA rating decision can establish SMC eligibility. A Veterans Service Officer, County VSO, or accredited attorney can review your medical evidence and file the appropriate claim at no cost. If a claim is pending, the VA may evaluate SMC automatically; if it is not, filing for SMC in writing protects your effective date under 38 CFR § 3.400†.