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N-2
 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2023
shares
Cover [Abstract]  
Entity Central Index Key 0000809559
Amendment Flag false
Document Type N-CSRS
Entity Registrant Name TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]  
Investment Objectives and Practices [Text Block]
Investment objective:    The Fund’s investment objective is to seek a total return comprised of current income and capital appreciation.
Investment strategy:    The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in a wide range of securities, including securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies and instrumentalities (“U.S. Government Securities”), investment-grade corporate debt securities, high yield corporate debt securities, non‑U.S. developed and emerging market debt mortgage-related securities, asset-backed securities, marketable small-, mid‑ and large-capitalization equity securities, convertible securities, money market securities, repurchase agreements, other securities and derivative instruments without limit believed by the Fund’s investment adviser to be consistent with the Fund’s investment
 
objective. The Fund will shift and reallocate its investments on an opportunistic basis and may invest in additional asset classes other than those identified above. The Fund may also employ leverage up to 33% of its total assets (including assets purchased with borrowings). The Fund has a stated goal of providing dependable, but not assured, quarterly distributions out of accumulated net investment income and/or other sources, subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act.
Risk Factors [Table Text Block]
Market Risk:    The Fund’s investments will fluctuate with market conditions, and so will the value of your investment in the Fund. You could lose money on your investment in the Fund or the Fund could underperform other investments.
Liquidity Risk:    The Fund’s investments in illiquid securities may reduce the returns of the Fund because it may not be able to sell the illiquid securities at an advantageous time or price. Investments in high-yield securities, foreign securities, derivatives or other securities with substantial market and/or credit risk tend to have the greatest exposure to liquidity risk. Certain investments in private placements and Rule 144A securities may be considered illiquid investments. The Fund may invest in private placements and Rule 144A securities.
Interest Rate Risk:    The values of the Fund’s investments fluctuate in response to movements in interest rates. If rates rise, the values of debt securities generally fall. The longer the average duration of the Fund’s investment portfolio, the greater the change in value. Risks associated with rising interest rates are heightened given that the Fed has begun to sharply raise interest rates from historically low levels and has signaled an intention to continue doing so until current inflation levels align with the Fed’s long-term inflation target.
Mortgage-Backed and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk:    The Fund may invest in MBS or other ABS. The values of some mortgage-backed securities or other asset-backed securities may expose the Fund to a lower rate of return upon reinvestment of principal. When interest rates rise, the value of mortgage-related securities generally will decline; however, when interest rates are declining, the value of mortgage-related securities with prepayment features may not increase as much as other fixed-income securities. The rate of prepayments on underlying mortgages will affect the price and volatility of a mortgage-related security, and may shorten or extend the effective maturity of the security beyond what was anticipated at the time of purchase. The value of these securities may fluctuate in response to the market’s perception of the creditworthiness of the issuers. Additionally, although mortgages and mortgage-related securities are generally supported by some form of government or private guarantee and/or insurance, there is no assurance that private guarantors or insurers will meet their obligations.
Derivatives Risk:    Use of derivatives, which at times is an important part of the Fund’s investment strategy, involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. Investments in derivatives could cause the Fund to lose more than the principal amount invested. Also, suitable derivative transactions may not be available in all circumstances and there can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its objective through the use of the derivatives.
Credit Risk:    The values of any of the Fund’s investments may also decline in response to events affecting the issuer or its credit rating. The lower-rated debt securities in which the Fund may invest are considered speculative and are subject to greater volatility and risk of loss than investment-grade securities, particularly in deteriorating economic conditions. The value of some mortgage-related securities in which the Fund invests also may fall because of unanticipated levels of principal prepayments that can occur
 
when interest rates decline. The Fund invests a material portion of its assets in securities of issuers that hold mortgage- and asset-backed securities and direct investments in securities backed by commercial and residential mortgage loans and other financial assets. The value and related income of these securities are sensitive to changes in economic conditions, including delinquencies and/or defaults. Continuing shifts in the market’s perception of credit quality on securities backed by commercial and residential mortgage loans and other financial assets may result in increased volatility of market prices and periods of illiquidity that can negatively impact the valuation of certain issuers held by the Fund.
MBS and ABS are characterized and classified in a variety of different ways. These classifications include a view of the securities’ cash flow structure (pass-through, sequential pay, prepayment-protected, interest only, principal only, etc.), the security of the claim on the underlying assets (senior, mezzanine and subordinated), as well as types of underlying collateral (prime conforming loans, prime non‑conforming loans, Alt‑A loans, subprime loans, commercial loans, etc.). In many cases, the classification incorporates a degree of subjectivity — a particular loan might be categorized as “prime” by the underwriting standards of one mortgage issuer while another might classify the loan as “subprime.” In addition to other functions, the risk associated with an investment in a mortgage loan must take into account the nature of the collateral, the form and the level of credit enhancement, the vintage of the loan, the geography of the loan, the purpose of the loan (refinance versus purchase versus equity takeout), the borrower’s credit quality (e.g., FICO score), and whether the loan is a first trust deed or a second lien.
Counterparty Risk:    The Fund may be exposed to counterparty risk, the risk that an entity with which the Fund has unsettled or open transactions may not fulfill its obligations.
LIBOR Risk:    The London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) has been used extensively in the U.S. and globally as a “benchmark” or “reference rate” for various commercial and financial contracts, including corporate and municipal bonds, bank loans, asset-backed and mortgage related securities, interest rate swaps and other derivatives. The publication of LIBOR on a representative basis ceased for the one‑week and two‑month U.S. dollar LIBOR settings immediately after December 31, 2022, and it is expected to cease for the remaining U.S. dollar LIBOR settings immediately after June 30, 2023. Actions by regulators have resulted in the establishment of alternative reference rates to LIBOR in most major currencies. The Fed is now publishing the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), which is intended to replace U.S. dollar LIBOR. Alternative reference rates for other currencies have also been announced or have begun publication. Markets are slowly developing in response to these new rates. Any potential effects of the transition away from LIBOR on the Fund or on certain instruments in which the Fund invests can be difficult to ascertain, and they may vary depending on factors that include, but are not limited to: (i) existing fallback or termination provisions in individual contracts and (ii) whether, how, and when industry participants develop and adopt new reference rates and fallbacks for both legacy and new products and instruments. The transition process may involve, among other things, increased volatility or illiquidity in markets for instruments that currently rely on LIBOR, and there may be a reduction in the value of certain instruments held by the Fund.
Capital Stock, Long-Term Debt, and Other Securities [Abstract]  
Outstanding Security, Authorized [Shares] 75,000,000
Outstanding Security, Held [Shares] 47,785,440
Market Risk [Member]  
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]  
Risk [Text Block]
Market Risk:    The Fund’s investments will fluctuate with market conditions, and so will the value of your investment in the Fund. You could lose money on your investment in the Fund or the Fund could underperform other investments.
Liquidity Risk [Member]  
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]  
Risk [Text Block]
Liquidity Risk:    The Fund’s investments in illiquid securities may reduce the returns of the Fund because it may not be able to sell the illiquid securities at an advantageous time or price. Investments in high-yield securities, foreign securities, derivatives or other securities with substantial market and/or credit risk tend to have the greatest exposure to liquidity risk. Certain investments in private placements and Rule 144A securities may be considered illiquid investments. The Fund may invest in private placements and Rule 144A securities.
Mortgage Backed and Other Asset Backed Securities Risk [Member]  
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]  
Risk [Text Block]
Mortgage-Backed and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk:    The Fund may invest in MBS or other ABS. The values of some mortgage-backed securities or other asset-backed securities may expose the Fund to a lower rate of return upon reinvestment of principal. When interest rates rise, the value of mortgage-related securities generally will decline; however, when interest rates are declining, the value of mortgage-related securities with prepayment features may not increase as much as other fixed-income securities. The rate of prepayments on underlying mortgages will affect the price and volatility of a mortgage-related security, and may shorten or extend the effective maturity of the security beyond what was anticipated at the time of purchase. The value of these securities may fluctuate in response to the market’s perception of the creditworthiness of the issuers. Additionally, although mortgages and mortgage-related securities are generally supported by some form of government or private guarantee and/or insurance, there is no assurance that private guarantors or insurers will meet their obligations.
Derivatives Risk [Member]  
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]  
Risk [Text Block]
Derivatives Risk:    Use of derivatives, which at times is an important part of the Fund’s investment strategy, involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. Investments in derivatives could cause the Fund to lose more than the principal amount invested. Also, suitable derivative transactions may not be available in all circumstances and there can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its objective through the use of the derivatives.
Counterparty Risk [Member]  
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]  
Risk [Text Block]
Counterparty Risk:    The Fund may be exposed to counterparty risk, the risk that an entity with which the Fund has unsettled or open transactions may not fulfill its obligations.
LIBOR Risk [Member]  
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]  
Risk [Text Block]
LIBOR Risk:    The London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) has been used extensively in the U.S. and globally as a “benchmark” or “reference rate” for various commercial and financial contracts, including corporate and municipal bonds, bank loans, asset-backed and mortgage related securities, interest rate swaps and other derivatives. The publication of LIBOR on a representative basis ceased for the one‑week and two‑month U.S. dollar LIBOR settings immediately after December 31, 2022, and it is expected to cease for the remaining U.S. dollar LIBOR settings immediately after June 30, 2023. Actions by regulators have resulted in the establishment of alternative reference rates to LIBOR in most major currencies. The Fed is now publishing the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), which is intended to replace U.S. dollar LIBOR. Alternative reference rates for other currencies have also been announced or have begun publication. Markets are slowly developing in response to these new rates. Any potential effects of the transition away from LIBOR on the Fund or on certain instruments in which the Fund invests can be difficult to ascertain, and they may vary depending on factors that include, but are not limited to: (i) existing fallback or termination provisions in individual contracts and (ii) whether, how, and when industry participants develop and adopt new reference rates and fallbacks for both legacy and new products and instruments. The transition process may involve, among other things, increased volatility or illiquidity in markets for instruments that currently rely on LIBOR, and there may be a reduction in the value of certain instruments held by the Fund.
Credit Risks [Member]  
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]  
Risk [Text Block]
Credit Risk:    The values of any of the Fund’s investments may also decline in response to events affecting the issuer or its credit rating. The lower-rated debt securities in which the Fund may invest are considered speculative and are subject to greater volatility and risk of loss than investment-grade securities, particularly in deteriorating economic conditions. The value of some mortgage-related securities in which the Fund invests also may fall because of unanticipated levels of principal prepayments that can occur
when interest rates decline. The Fund invests a material portion of its assets in securities of issuers that hold mortgage- and asset-backed securities and direct investments in securities backed by commercial and residential mortgage loans and other financial assets. The value and related income of these securities are sensitive to changes in economic conditions, including delinquencies and/or defaults. Continuing shifts in the market’s perception of credit quality on securities backed by commercial and residential mortgage loans and other financial assets may result in increased volatility of market prices and periods of illiquidity that can negatively impact the valuation of certain issuers held by the Fund.
MBS and ABS are characterized and classified in a variety of different ways. These classifications include a view of the securities’ cash flow structure (pass-through, sequential pay, prepayment-protected, interest only, principal only, etc.), the security of the claim on the underlying assets (senior, mezzanine and subordinated), as well as types of underlying collateral (prime conforming loans, prime non‑conforming loans, Alt‑A loans, subprime loans, commercial loans, etc.). In many cases, the classification incorporates a degree of subjectivity — a particular loan might be categorized as “prime” by the underwriting standards of one mortgage issuer while another might classify the loan as “subprime.” In addition to other functions, the risk associated with an investment in a mortgage loan must take into account the nature of the collateral, the form and the level of credit enhancement, the vintage of the loan, the geography of the loan, the purpose of the loan (refinance versus purchase versus equity takeout), the borrower’s credit quality (e.g., FICO score), and whether the loan is a first trust deed or a second lien.
Interest Rate Risk [Member]  
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]  
Risk [Text Block]
Interest Rate Risk:    The values of the Fund’s investments fluctuate in response to movements in interest rates. If rates rise, the values of debt securities generally fall. The longer the average duration of the Fund’s investment portfolio, the greater the change in value. Risks associated with rising interest rates are heightened given that the Fed has begun to sharply raise interest rates from historically low levels and has signaled an intention to continue doing so until current inflation levels align with the Fed’s long-term inflation target.