VA SMC-S Explained: How to Get Extra Compensation for Housebound Veterans!

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If you are a veteran with significant service-connected disabilities that keep you substantially confined to your home, you may be eligible for Special Monthly Compensation at the “S” rate—commonly known as SMC-S or “housebound” benefits.

This is a powerful yet often overlooked benefit available to veterans whose conditions are so severe that they cannot leave their homes for anything beyond occasional and essential purposes, like medical appointments.

In this in-depth article from VA disability expert Brian Reese, we’ll break down exactly what VA SMC-S is, who qualifies, how to apply, and what evidence is required to get this additional benefit.

If you’re stuck at home because of your service-connected conditions or are already rated 100% for one condition and have another at 60% or higher, you may qualify for this higher level of tax-free compensation.

Let’s begin!

Summary of Key Points

• What is SMC-S Housebound? Special Monthly Compensation at the “S” level (SMC-S) provides additional tax-free compensation to veterans who are housebound due to their service-connected disabilities.

• Two Ways to Qualify: (#1) Statutory: One disability rated 100% plus a separate 60%+ rated disability. (#2) Factual: The veteran is substantially confined to their home due to service-connected conditions.

• TDIU and SMC-S: Veterans can qualify for SMC-S with TDIU only if it’s based on one condition and they have another separate disability rated 60% or higher.

• How to Apply and What to Include: File a new claim on VA.gov, submit medical evidence, a doctor’s statement, and a personal Statement in Support of Claim explaining your confinement and disability impact.

What is Special Monthly Compensation (SMC-S)?

Special Monthly Compensation is an additional level of VA disability compensation authorized under 38 U.S.C. § 1114 and implemented in VA regulations under 38 CFR § 3.350.

SMC was created to provide additional compensation to veterans with particularly severe service-connected disabilities or combinations of disabilities that result in additional challenges, such as the need for aid and attendance or being substantially confined to their residence.

SMC at the “S” level, known as SMC-S or Housebound, is awarded in one of two ways: (#1) statutory housebound status or (#2) factual housebound status.

The first involves specific disability ratings; the second is based on the actual severity of the veteran’s condition and their inability to leave home.

Pro Tip: SMC-S housebound is awarded in-place of your 100% VA disability compensation. You don’t get both. But, if you qualify for SMC-S, it’s a higher rate of pay than 100% VA disability.

What is Statutory Housebound Status?

According to 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) and 38 CFR § 3.350(i), a veteran qualifies for statutory housebound benefits if they have:

• A single service-connected disability rated as totally disabling (100 percent), either schedularly or through Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU), and

• One or more additional service-connected disabilities that are independently ratable at 60 percent or more.

The disabilities must be separate and involve different body systems or anatomical regions.

According to M21-1, Part V, Subpart ii, Chapter 4, Section A.6.b, the 60 percent evaluation must be entirely distinct and not part of the same condition or combined evaluation used to establish the 100 percent disability.

Pyramiding under 38 CFR § 4.14 is prohibited, meaning you cannot count the same symptoms or limitations twice to reach the combined total.

Example: A veteran has a 100 percent rating for PTSD. They are also rated at 60 percent for coronary artery disease. These are separate conditions that affect different body systems—mental health and cardiovascular, respectively. Because the PTSD satisfies the 100 percent requirement and the coronary artery disease meets the 60 percent threshold, the veteran qualifies for SMC-S under statutory housebound status.

What is Factual Housebound Status?

Veterans may also qualify for housebound benefits even if they do not have an additional 60 percent rating.

This is referred to as “housebound in fact.”

According to 38 CFR § 3.350(i)(2), a veteran is factually housebound when, due to a service-connected disability or disabilities, they are permanently and substantially confined to their dwelling and immediate premises.

This includes instances where the veteran leaves home only for essential purposes such as medical appointments and does not otherwise have the capacity to engage in employment or regular activity outside the home.

The Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) addressed this issue in Howell v. Nicholson, 19 Vet. App. 535 (2006).

In that case, the Court held that the phrase “substantially confined to his or her dwelling and the immediate premises” does not mean the veteran must be completely unable to leave the home.

The key is whether the veteran can leave for work or frequent activities that would demonstrate they are not housebound.

Occasional trips to church, the store, or medical appointments do not disqualify a veteran from being considered housebound in fact.

Example: A veteran with service-connected diabetes and complications such as neuropathy and renal dysfunction is rated at 100 percent. They require dialysis and can only walk short distances. They leave the home once a week for dialysis, which is medically necessary, but otherwise remain inside due to fatigue and physical limitations. In this case, the veteran is considered factually housebound and qualifies for SMC-S under 38 CFR § 3.350(i)(2).

TDIU and the 100 Percent Disability Requirement

Veterans who are rated totally disabled due to Individual Unemployability (TDIU) may also qualify for SMC-S, but only under certain conditions.

In Bradley v. Peake, 22 Vet. App. 280 (2008), the Court held that a veteran who is granted TDIU based on a single disability and has other disabilities rated at 60 percent or more may still qualify for SMC-S.

However, if the TDIU award is based on multiple disabilities treated as one under 38 CFR § 4.16(a), the veteran does not meet the requirement for a “single” 100 percent disability.

For example, a TDIU granted based on a combination of a 50 percent shoulder injury and a 20 percent arm fracture—both stemming from a single accident—does not count as one disability for SMC-S purposes.

In contrast, if the TDIU is based solely on one condition, such as major depressive disorder rated at 70 percent, and the veteran has an additional service-connected condition rated at 60 percent (e.g., diabetes), they would meet the requirements for SMC-S.

How Much Does SMC-S Pay in 2025?

The 2025 Special Monthly Compensation rate for a veteran receiving SMC-S with no dependents is $4,288.45.

The SMC-S pay rate provides an additional $457.15 per month above the standard 100% VA disability rate for a veteran with no dependents.

Veterans with dependents receive additional compensation.

These rates are updated annually with the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA).

Like standard VA disability compensation, SMC-S is tax-free at both the state and federal level.

How to Apply for VA Housebound Benefits

If SMC-S is not automatically awarded—and in many cases, it is not—you can file a new VA claim to request housebound status.

• Step #1. Open a new claim online at VA.gov, and add a new disability called “Request for Housebound Status.”

• Step #2. Upload medical evidence showing that your disabilities are permanently and totally disabling and meet the definition of housebound status, which requires that a Veteran is unable to leave his/her place of residence or immediate premises to earn any income. You generally need to have a single disability condition rated as totally disabling, such as a 100 percent VA rating for PTSD.

• Step #3. It’s helpful to have your treating physician or other private medical professional write a letter on your behalf explaining how your disabilities are Total, Permanent, and unlikely to improve. The letter also needs to explain that you’re substantially confined to your immediate dwelling.

• Step #4. You should write a personal Statement in Support of a Claim documenting how your disability condition(s) are permanently and totally disabling and meet the requirements for VA housebound benefits under 38 CFR § 3.350 Special Monthly Compensation ratings.

Can You Receive SMC-S and Aid and Attendance Together?

Negative.

SMC-S and Aid and Attendance (SMC-L, SMC-R1, or SMC-R2) are separate categories of Special Monthly Compensation and are not paid concurrently.

Aid and Attendance is for veterans who require help with the activities of daily living, such as dressing, bathing, or toileting.

While a veteran may qualify for both SMC-S and Aid and Attendance, only the higher-paying benefit will be awarded.

This is based on the principle of “no pyramiding” under 38 CFR § 4.14.

Key Legal References and Guidance

The following resources are essential to understanding VA SMC-S housebound determinations:

• 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s)
• 38 CFR § 3.350(i)
• M21-1, Part V, Subpart ii, Chapter 4 (SMC Determinations)
• Bradley v. Peake, 22 Vet. App. 280 (2008)
• Howell v. Nicholson, 19 Vet. App. 535 (2006)
• VAOPGCPREC 2-1994 and 66-1991

These references support both statutory and factual housebound determinations and provide critical clarification on the use of TDIU and combined ratings for eligibility.

Conclusion & Wrap-Up

If you’re a veteran who cannot work or leave your home regularly due to your service-connected disabilities, you may qualify for SMC-S.

Whether through statutory qualifications or factual confinement, this benefit can provide meaningful financial support above and beyond standard VA compensation.

Don’t leave benefits you deserve on the table—ensure you’re rated properly and supported with the right medical evidence.

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