Home → Veterans Guide to VA Benefits → Appendix III - VA Compensation Rate Tables → 2021 Special Monthly Compensation Table
2021 VA Special Monthly Compensation Rates
VA special monthly compensation (SMC) is a higher rate of compensation paid to Veterans as well as their spouses, surviving spouses, and parents with certain needs or disabilities.
Effective December 1, 2020
SMC-K and SMC-Q rates
SMC letter designation |
Monthly payment (in U.S. $) |
How this payment variation works |
SMC-K |
111.74 |
If you qualify for SMC-K, VA will add this rate to your basic disability compensation rate for any disability rating from 0% to 100%. rate will be added to all SMC basic rates except SMC-O, SMC-Q, and SMC-R. You may receive 1 to 3 SMC-K awards in addition to basic and SMC rates. |
SMC-Q |
67.00 |
This is a protected rate that VA haven’t awarded since August 19, 1968. If VA awarded you an SMC-Q designation, they will pay this rate in place of your basic disability compensation rate. |
Special monthly compensation rates for Veterans without children
SMC-L thru
SMC-N rates
| |||||
Dependent status |
SMC-L (in U.S. $) |
SMC-L 1/2 (in U.S. $) |
SMC-M (in U.S. $) |
SMC-M 1/2 (in U.S. $) |
SMC-N (in U.S. $) |
Veteran alone (no dependents) |
3,915.14 |
4,117.54 |
4,320.76 |
4,617.63 |
4,915.17 |
With spouse (no parents or children) |
4,090.57 |
4,292.97 |
4,496.19 |
4,793.06 |
5,090.60 |
With spouse and 1 parent (no children) |
4,231.36 |
4,433.76 |
4,636.98 |
4,933.85 |
5,231.39 |
With spouse and 2 parents (no children) |
4,372.15 |
4,574.55 |
4,777.77 |
5,074.64 |
5,372.18 |
With 1 parent (no spouse or children) |
4,055.93 |
4,258.33 |
4,461.55 |
4,758.42 |
5,055.96 |
With 2 parents (no spouse or children) |
4,196.72 |
4,399.12 |
4,602.34 |
4,899.21 |
5,196.75 |
Added amounts | |||||
Dependent status |
SMC-L (in U.S. $) |
SMC-L 1/2 (in U.S. $) |
SMC-M (in U.S. $) |
SMC-M 1/2 (in U.S. $) |
SMC-N (in U.S. $) |
Spouse receiving Aid and Attendance |
160.89 |
160.89 |
160.89 |
160.89 |
160.89 |
SMC-N1/2 thru SMC-S rates
Dependent status |
SMC-N 1/2 (in U.S. $) |
SMC-O/P (in U.S. $) |
SMC-R.1 (in U.S. $) |
SMC-R.2/T (in U.S. $) |
SMC-S (in U.S. $) |
Veteran alone (no dependents) |
5,204.30 |
5,493.95 |
7,850.43 |
9,004.64 |
3,521.85 |
With spouse (no parents or children) |
5,379.73 |
5,669.38 |
8,025.86 |
9,180.07 |
3,697.28 |
With spouse and 1 parent (no children) |
5,520.52 |
5,810.17 |
8,166.65 |
9,320.86 |
3,838.07 |
With spouse and 2 parents (no children) |
5,661.31 |
5,950.96 |
8,307.44 |
9,461.65 |
3,978.86 |
With 1 parent (no spouse or children) |
5,345.09 |
5,634.74 |
7,991.22 |
9,145.43 |
3,662.64 |
With 2 parents (no spouse or children) |
5,485.88 |
5,775.53 |
8,132.01 |
9,286.22 |
3,803.43 |
Added amounts | |||||
Dependent status |
SMC-N 1/2 (in U.S. $) |
SMC-O/P (in U.S. $) |
SMC-R.1 (in U.S. $) |
SMC-R.2/T (in U.S. $) |
SMC-S (in U.S. $) |
Spouse receiving Aid and Attendance |
160.89 |
160.89 |
160.89 |
160.89 |
160.89 |
Special monthly compensation rates for Veterans with dependents, including children
SMC-L thru SMC-N rates
|
SMC-L (in U.S. $) |
SMC-L 1/2 (in U.S. $) |
SMC-M (in U.S. $) |
SMC-M 1/2 (in U.S. $) |
SMC-N (in U.S. $) |
Veteran with 1 child (no spouse or parents) |
4,032.46 |
4,234.86 |
4,438.08 |
4,734.95 |
5,032.49 |
With 1 child and spouse (no parents) |
4,219.04 |
4,421.44 |
4,624.66 |
4,921.53 |
5,219.07 |
With 1 child, spouse, and 1 parent |
4,359.83 |
4,562.23 |
4,765.45 |
5,062.32 |
5,359.86 |
With 1 child, spouse, and 2 parents |
4,500.62 |
4,703.02 |
4,906.24 |
5,203.11 |
5,500.65 |
With 1 child and 1 parent (no spouse) |
4,173.25 |
4,375.65 |
4,578.87 |
4,875.74 |
5,173.28 |
With 1 child and 2 parents (no spouse) |
4,314.04 |
4,516.44 |
4,719.66 |
5,016.53 |
5,314.07 |
Added amounts | |||||
Dependent status |
SMC-L (in U.S. $) |
SMC-L 1/2 (in U.S. $) |
SMC-M (in U.S. $) |
SMC-M 1/2 (in U.S. $) |
SMC-N (in U.S. $) |
Each additional child under age 18 |
87.17 |
87.17 |
87.17 |
87.17 |
87.17 |
Each additional child over age 18 in a qualifying school program |
281.57 |
281.57 |
281.57 |
281.57 |
281.57 |
Spouse receiving Aid and Attendance |
160.89 |
160.89 |
160.89 |
160.89 |
160.89 |
SMC-N1/2 thru SMC-S rates
| |||||
Dependent status |
SMC-N 1/2 (in U.S. $) |
SMC-O/P (in U.S. $) |
SMC-R.1 (in U.S. $) |
SMC-R.2/T (in U.S. $) |
SMC-S (in U.S. $) |
Veteran with 1 child (no spouse or parents) |
5,321.62 |
5,611.27 |
7,967.75 |
9,121.96 |
3,639.17 |
With 1 child and spouse (no parents) |
5,508.20 |
5,797.85 |
8,154.33 |
9,308.54 |
3,825.75 |
With 1 child, spouse, and 1 parent |
5,648.99 |
5,938.64 |
8,295.12 |
9,449.33 |
3,966.54 |
With 1 child, spouse, and 2 parents |
5,789.78 |
6,079.43 |
8,435.91 |
9,590.12 |
4,107.33 |
With 1 child and 1 parent (no spouse) |
5,462.41 |
5,752.06 |
8108.54 |
9,262.75 |
3,779.96 |
With 1 child and 2 parents (no spouse) |
5,603.20 |
5,892.85 |
8,249.33 |
9,403.54 |
3,920.75 |
Added amounts | |||||
Dependent status |
SMC-N 1/2 (in U.S. $) |
SMC-O/P (in U.S. $) |
SMC-R.1 (in U.S. $) |
SMC-R.2/T (in U.S. $) |
SMC-S (in U.S. $) |
Each additional child under age 18 |
87.17 |
87.17 |
87.17 |
87.17 |
87.17 |
Each additional child over age 18 in a qualifying school program |
281.57 |
281.57 |
281.57 |
281.57 |
281.57 |
Spouse receiving Aid and Attendance |
160.89 |
160.89 |
160.89 |
160.89 |
160.89 |