What is VA Special Monthly Compensation?

Specific circumstances and disabilities may render veterans eligible for VA Special Monthly Compensation.

Summary

• Special Monthly Compensation provides additional financial support for veterans, their spouses, or surviving family members with severe service-connected disabilities or specific conditions requiring caregiver support or medical supervision.
• Veterans may qualify for VA Special Monthly Compensation if they have significant disabilities or require aid for daily tasks. Spouses and survivors may qualify if they are bedridden, housebound, or require assistance with basic care tasks.
• Various SMC categories exist, including SMC-K (loss of body parts/functions), SMC-L to SMC-O (severe injuries), SMC-R (aid and attendance), SMC-S (housebound status), and SMC-T (ongoing medical care for Traumatic Brain Injuries).
• It’s the VA’s responsibility to automatically assess veterans for SMC eligibility, but many struggle to secure the benefits they deserve.

The VA percentage system for disability ratings is designed so that a veteran’s overall disability rating does not exceed 100%, as a vet can’t be more than fully disabled. However, some veterans are under an exceptional level of financial, emotional, and physical stress due to their severe service-connected disabilities. 

VA Special Monthly Compensation exists for these types of cases, and VetLaw is the team to help you get it. Our diligent veterans disability appeals attorneys have considerable expertise in handling Special Monthly Compensation claims.

We are ready to leverage this knowledge for you. Call us at (855) 573-1503 or submit a contact form to schedule a free consultation. We will talk you through what to expect from the claims process and what services we offer.

Defining VA Special Monthly Compensation 

As the name suggests, the VA provides Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) on a monthly basis along with standard VA disability benefits. It is a financial benefit that is given to veterans, their spouses, or certain surviving family members under specific conditions. 

To qualify for SMC as a veteran, your service-related disability must fall under one of the following categories:

• It is on the VA’s list of severe and permanent physical conditions that qualify for SMC, such as the loss of a limb or loss of sight.
• Your condition interferes with your ability to care for yourself to the point where you need regular assistance with daily tasks, like showering.
• As a result of your service-related disability, you are bedridden, housebound, or in a nursing home facility.

If you are a spouse, surviving spouse, or surviving parent of a veteran, you may also qualify for VA Special Monthly Compensation. In addition to meeting the other eligibility requirements, you would need to show that at least one of the following applies to you:

• A permanent disability has rendered you housebound,
• You are mostly or completely bedridden,
• You live in a nursing home because of your health,
• Your eyesight is significantly diminished even with corrective lenses or contacts, 
• Or, you can’t independently perform basic tasks such as getting dressed without help

The VA grants SMC to surviving spouses and parents with significant or incapacitating disabilities to offset the support that the veteran hypothetically would have provided if they were still alive.

Types of VA Special Monthly Compensation for Veterans and Their Families

The VA provides a detailed outline of requirements for each kind of Special Monthly Compensation benefits. The following is a condensed version of the types of SMC veterans and their families may qualify for, in addition to standard VA disability benefits:

SMC-K: Further benefit stacked on top of other SMC benefits for losing a body part or function, specifically loss of limbs, extremities, reproductive organs, breast tissue, both buttocks, eyesight, hearing, or speech.

SMC-L through SMC-O: Benefits for certain service-connected injuries or combinations of injuries, including limb or extremity amputations, loss of limb or extremity function, loss of eye(s), loss of eyesight, and loss of hearing.

SMC-R 1: Compensation for individuals who require daily assistance with basic tasks.

SMC-R 2: Benefit for those who qualify for SMC-R 1, but also need regular medical care or maintenance from a provider. 

SMC-S: Compensation for housebound individuals, including vets with at least one service-related disability rated at 100% and other service-connected conditions with a combined total VA disability rating of 60%.

SMC-T: Benefit for veterans with service-related Traumatic Brain Injuries who need ongoing medical care from specialists, outside of what a family member acting as a caregiver can provide.

Set Up a Free Consultation With VetLaw to Discuss Your VA Special Monthly Compensation Claim

Although the VA is supposed to automatically evaluate qualified veterans for Special Monthly Compensation, many eligible veterans still struggle to claim the VA benefits they are owed. VetLaw is here to help veterans and their families rectify unfair VA benefit denials. 

Our team of veterans disability appeals lawyers has the resources and expertise that successful claims require. We understand how to navigate the VA appeals process efficiently and prioritize your needs based on our years of experience. With VetLaw representing you, you can feel confident moving forward with your VA SMC appeal.

If you are having difficulty securing VA Special Monthly Compensation, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. You can reach our team at (855) 573-1503 or submit a contact form to schedule a free consultation. We will review your VA disability claim, offer specific guidance that is tailored to your case, and answer any questions you may have.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to pay taxes on my VA Special Monthly Compensation?

No, like other types of VA disability compensation, Special Monthly Compensation is a tax-free benefit for veterans. SMC is also a tax-exempt benefit for spouses, surviving spouses, and surviving parents of veterans.

Will my back pay include my VA Special Monthly Compensation?

Starting on your claim’s effective date, you are potentially eligible for VA benefits. If the VA decides you qualify and ultimately grants you compensation, your back pay benefits should include VA Special Monthly Compensation benefits for the period of time you qualified for them. 

Can I collect VA Aid and Attendance benefits as well as VA Housebound benefits?

No, individuals who qualify for Aid and Attendance benefits and Housebound benefits cannot receive both types of compensation. This applies to both veterans and their eligible family members.

Do any service-connected mental conditions qualify for Special Monthly Compensation?

Although the VA does not directly offer Special Monthly Compensation benefits based on mental health conditions, a veteran may still use a VA disability rating for a mental condition to help them qualify for SMC. For example, the VA offers SMC-L 1/2, SMC-M 1/2, and SMC-N 1/2. 

For each of these categories, there is an alternative route to qualify for VA Special Monthly Compensation at the 1/2  level, which provides more compensation than the standard SMC-L, M, or N level.

Say that you’re a veteran who has lost your eyesight due to your military service. Typically, you would qualify for SMC-L benefits. However, if you also have a 50% VA disability rating for another permanent condition, you can be eligible for benefits at the SMC-L 1/2 level.

This is where a service-related mental condition could play a role in your SMC claim. If you had, for example, a permanent 70% VA disability rating for Generalized Anxiety Disorder, you could potentially qualify for the higher level of SMC.