VA SMC rates 2026 and 2027
Special monthly compensation (SMC) is a higher VA rate for certain serious service-connected disabilities, set in 38 U.S.C. 1114(k) to (t). In 2026, SMC-K adds $139.87 a month for each award, and SMC-L for a veteran alone is $4,900.83.
- 2026: VA's rates, effective December 1, 2025.
- 2027: our estimate with the 3.6% raise, not official until VA publishes its table.
- Dependents add the same amounts they add at a 100% rating.
2026 SMC rates
VA's monthly rates, effective December 1, 2025. Find your dependents in the left column and your SMC level across the top. Swipe the tables sideways on a phone.
| SMC-K | $139.87 a month for each award, added to the basic rate (0% to 100%) or to SMC-L through SMC-N ½ and SMC-S. VA pays up to 3 awards. |
|---|---|
| SMC-Q | $67.00, a protected rate VA hasn't awarded since August 19, 1968. |
| Dependents | SMC-L | SMC-L ½ | SMC-M | SMC-M ½ | SMC-N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veteran alone | $4,900.83 | $5,154.00 | $5,408.55 | $5,780.00 | $6,152.64 |
| With spouse | $5,120.42 | $5,373.59 | $5,628.14 | $5,999.59 | $6,372.23 |
| With spouse and 1 parent | $5,296.66 | $5,549.83 | $5,804.38 | $6,175.83 | $6,548.47 |
| With spouse and 2 parents | $5,472.90 | $5,726.07 | $5,980.62 | $6,352.07 | $6,724.71 |
| With 1 parent | $5,077.07 | $5,330.24 | $5,584.79 | $5,956.24 | $6,328.88 |
| With 2 parents | $5,253.31 | $5,506.48 | $5,761.03 | $6,132.48 | $6,505.12 |
| With 1 child | $5,047.68 | $5,300.85 | $5,555.40 | $5,926.85 | $6,299.49 |
| With 1 child and spouse | $5,281.24 | $5,534.41 | $5,788.96 | $6,160.41 | $6,533.05 |
| With 1 child, spouse and 1 parent | $5,457.48 | $5,710.65 | $5,965.20 | $6,336.65 | $6,709.29 |
| With 1 child, spouse and 2 parents | $5,633.72 | $5,886.89 | $6,141.44 | $6,512.89 | $6,885.53 |
| With 1 child and 1 parent | $5,223.92 | $5,477.09 | $5,731.64 | $6,103.09 | $6,475.73 |
| With 1 child and 2 parents | $5,400.16 | $5,653.33 | $5,907.88 | $6,279.33 | $6,651.97 |
| Each additional child under 18 | $109.11 | $109.11 | $109.11 | $109.11 | $109.11 |
| Each child 18 to 23 in school | $352.45 | $352.45 | $352.45 | $352.45 | $352.45 |
| Spouse receiving Aid and Attendance | $201.41 | $201.41 | $201.41 | $201.41 | $201.41 |
| Dependents | SMC-N ½ | SMC-O/P | SMC-R.1 | SMC-R.2/T | SMC-S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veteran alone | $6,514.00 | $6,877.12 | $9,826.88 | $11,271.67 | $4,408.53 |
| With spouse | $6,733.59 | $7,096.71 | $10,046.47 | $11,491.26 | $4,628.12 |
| With spouse and 1 parent | $6,909.83 | $7,272.95 | $10,222.71 | $11,667.50 | $4,804.36 |
| With spouse and 2 parents | $7,086.07 | $7,449.19 | $10,398.95 | $11,843.74 | $4,980.60 |
| With 1 parent | $6,690.24 | $7,053.36 | $10,003.12 | $11,447.91 | $4,584.77 |
| With 2 parents | $6,866.48 | $7,229.60 | $10,179.36 | $11,624.15 | $4,761.01 |
| With 1 child | $6,660.85 | $7,023.97 | $9,973.73 | $11,418.52 | $4,555.38 |
| With 1 child and spouse | $6,894.41 | $7,257.53 | $10,207.29 | $11,652.08 | $4,788.94 |
| With 1 child, spouse and 1 parent | $7,070.65 | $7,433.77 | $10,383.53 | $11,828.32 | $4,965.18 |
| With 1 child, spouse and 2 parents | $7,246.89 | $7,610.01 | $10,559.77 | $12,004.56 | $5,141.42 |
| With 1 child and 1 parent | $6,837.09 | $7,200.21 | $10,149.97 | $11,594.76 | $4,731.62 |
| With 1 child and 2 parents | $7,013.33 | $7,376.45 | $10,326.21 | $11,771.00 | $4,907.86 |
| Each additional child under 18 | $109.11 | $109.11 | $109.11 | $109.11 | $109.11 |
| Each child 18 to 23 in school | $352.45 | $352.45 | $352.45 | $352.45 | $352.45 |
| Spouse receiving Aid and Attendance | $201.41 | $201.41 | $201.41 | $201.41 | $201.41 |
Download the 2026 SMC table (CSV)
Cite this page: Vet Kept, "VA SMC rates 2026 and 2027," https://vetkept.com/va-smc-rates/, updated November 7, 2026. Rates from VA, "Current special monthly compensation rates."
Projected 2027 SMC rates
Our estimate with the 3.6% raise, the 2027 Social Security cost-of-living adjustment. The 2027 compensation bill in Congress (S. 4487 and H.R. 8552) would raise VA rates by that same percentage. As of November 7, 2026 it isn't law.
| SMC-K (projected) | $144.91 a month for each award |
|---|---|
| SMC-Q | $67.00, unchanged (it didn't change in 2025 or 2026 either) |
| Dependents | SMC-L | SMC-L ½ | SMC-M | SMC-M ½ | SMC-N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veteran alone | $5,077.26 | $5,340.00 | $5,603.26 | $5,988.00 | $6,374.14 |
| With spouse | $5,304.76 | $5,567.50 | $5,830.76 | $6,215.50 | $6,601.64 |
| With spouse and 1 parent | $5,487.34 | $5,750.08 | $6,013.34 | $6,398.08 | $6,784.22 |
| With spouse and 2 parents | $5,669.92 | $5,932.66 | $6,195.92 | $6,580.66 | $6,966.80 |
| With 1 parent | $5,259.84 | $5,522.58 | $5,785.84 | $6,170.58 | $6,556.72 |
| With 2 parents | $5,442.42 | $5,705.16 | $5,968.42 | $6,353.16 | $6,739.30 |
| With 1 child | $5,229.40 | $5,492.14 | $5,755.40 | $6,140.14 | $6,526.28 |
| With 1 child and spouse | $5,471.36 | $5,734.10 | $5,997.36 | $6,382.10 | $6,768.24 |
| With 1 child, spouse and 1 parent | $5,653.94 | $5,916.68 | $6,179.94 | $6,564.68 | $6,950.82 |
| With 1 child, spouse and 2 parents | $5,836.52 | $6,099.26 | $6,362.52 | $6,747.26 | $7,133.40 |
| With 1 child and 1 parent | $5,411.98 | $5,674.72 | $5,937.98 | $6,322.72 | $6,708.86 |
| With 1 child and 2 parents | $5,594.56 | $5,857.30 | $6,120.56 | $6,505.30 | $6,891.44 |
| Each additional child under 18 | $113.04 | $113.04 | $113.04 | $113.04 | $113.04 |
| Each child 18 to 23 in school | $365.14 | $365.14 | $365.14 | $365.14 | $365.14 |
| Spouse receiving Aid and Attendance | $208.66 | $208.66 | $208.66 | $208.66 | $208.66 |
| Dependents | SMC-N ½ | SMC-O/P | SMC-R.1 | SMC-R.2/T | SMC-S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veteran alone | $6,749.00 | $7,124.70 | $10,180.65 | $11,677.45 | $4,567.24 |
| With spouse | $6,976.50 | $7,352.20 | $10,408.15 | $11,904.95 | $4,794.74 |
| With spouse and 1 parent | $7,159.08 | $7,534.78 | $10,590.73 | $12,087.53 | $4,977.32 |
| With spouse and 2 parents | $7,341.66 | $7,717.36 | $10,773.31 | $12,270.11 | $5,159.90 |
| With 1 parent | $6,931.58 | $7,307.28 | $10,363.23 | $11,860.03 | $4,749.82 |
| With 2 parents | $7,114.16 | $7,489.86 | $10,545.81 | $12,042.61 | $4,932.40 |
| With 1 child | $6,901.14 | $7,276.84 | $10,332.79 | $11,829.59 | $4,719.38 |
| With 1 child and spouse | $7,143.10 | $7,518.80 | $10,574.75 | $12,071.55 | $4,961.34 |
| With 1 child, spouse and 1 parent | $7,325.68 | $7,701.38 | $10,757.33 | $12,254.13 | $5,143.92 |
| With 1 child, spouse and 2 parents | $7,508.26 | $7,883.96 | $10,939.91 | $12,436.71 | $5,326.50 |
| With 1 child and 1 parent | $7,083.72 | $7,459.42 | $10,515.37 | $12,012.17 | $4,901.96 |
| With 1 child and 2 parents | $7,266.30 | $7,642.00 | $10,697.95 | $12,194.75 | $5,084.54 |
| Each additional child under 18 | $113.04 | $113.04 | $113.04 | $113.04 | $113.04 |
| Each child 18 to 23 in school | $365.14 | $365.14 | $365.14 | $365.14 | $365.14 |
| Spouse receiving Aid and Attendance | $208.66 | $208.66 | $208.66 | $208.66 | $208.66 |
How we project 2027
- The rates for SMC-K, L, M, N, O/P, R.1, R.2/T and S go up 3.6%, rounded to the cent.
- Each "½" rate is the average of the rates on either side of it, rounded down to the whole dollar (38 U.S.C. 1114(p)).
- Dependents add the same amounts as in our projected 100% row of the 2027 rate table (38 U.S.C. 1115(1)).
We tested this method on VA's own tables: from the 2024 SMC table it gives every one of the 152 amounts in VA's 2025 table to the cent, and from the 2025 table every amount in the 2026 table. We'll replace the estimate with VA's table when it's published.
What the SMC levels mean
VA decides your SMC level; it's on your decision letter. In short, from 38 U.S.C. 1114:
- SMC-K (1114(k)): for losses such as loss or loss of use of a hand, a foot, both buttocks or a creative organ, blindness of one eye with only light perception, deafness of both ears, loss of speech, or certain loss of breast tissue or radiation treatment of breast tissue. Paid on top of the regular rate.
- SMC-L, M and N (1114(l) to (n)): more severe losses, such as loss of use of both feet (L), both hands (M), or both arms with no natural elbow action with prostheses (N), and blindness at different levels. SMC-L also covers being bedridden or needing regular aid and attendance.
- ½ rates and SMC-O/P (1114(o), (p)): combinations of disabilities between or above those levels. SMC-O is the highest of these.
- SMC-R.1 and R.2 (1114(r)): an aid and attendance allowance for veterans at the SMC-O rate, or at SMC-N ½ plus SMC-K, who need regular aid and attendance; R.2 is for a higher level of care at home.
- SMC-S (1114(s)): a disability rated 100% plus either another disability rated 60% or more on its own, or being permanently housebound because of service-connected disabilities.
- SMC-T (1114(t)): an aid and attendance allowance for the residuals of traumatic brain injury, equal to the R.2 allowance. VA's table shows it in the R.2 column; the law pays it in addition to other compensation, so an individual total can differ.
This page explains the rates only. It doesn't help with claims or decide which level applies to anyone.
Questions people ask
How much is SMC-K in 2026?
$139.87 a month for each award, effective December 1, 2025. VA adds it to your regular disability rate, or to SMC-L through SMC-N ½ and SMC-S, and pays up to 3 awards.
What will SMC-K be in 2027?
About $144.91 a month, if the 2027 raise is 3.6%. That's our estimate, not an official rate. The new rates would start with the payment for December 2026.
How much is SMC-L for a veteran alone?
$4,900.83 a month in 2026. With a spouse it's $5,120.42. Our 2027 estimate for a veteran alone is $5,077.26.
Do dependents increase SMC?
Yes. Each SMC level adds the same amounts for a spouse, parents and children as the 100% row of the regular rate table. For example, a spouse adds $219.59 a month in 2026.
Can SMC-K be added to SMC-O or SMC-R?
No. VA adds SMC-K to the regular rates and to SMC-L through SMC-N ½ and SMC-S, but not to SMC-O, SMC-Q or SMC-R. With SMC-L through SMC-N ½, the total with SMC-K can't go above the SMC-O rate (38 U.S.C. 1114(k)).
Updated November 7, 2026. Sources: VA, "Current special monthly compensation rates"; VA, "Past rates: special monthly compensation 2025"; 38 U.S.C. 1114; 38 U.S.C. 1115; Social Security Administration, "Social Security Announces 3.6 Percent Benefit Increase for 2027"; S. 4487; H.R. 8552. Not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.