Older Person's Grant (old age pension) 2026/27

A monthly grant for South Africans aged 60 and older who pass the means test. From 1 April 2026 it is R2 400 a month, or R2 420 from age 75.

Source: Government Gazette (Department of Social Development), Department of Social Development, LawLibrary (consolidated regulations), SASSA, LawLibrary (consolidated Act)Last checked 30 October 2026Some points still being verified

Sources and notes

Social grant amounts, 2026/27 — effective 1 April 2026
- GN R.7287 of 23 March 2026 (GG 54397): increases in social grant amounts from 1 April 2026 and 1 October 2026 (Government Gazette (Department of Social Development))
- DSD: SASSA confirms 2026/2027 social grant payment schedule and increases (approved by National Treasury on 20 March 2026) (Department of Social Development)
- Regulations relating to COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress, GN R.2042 of 2022 as amended: reg 2 (R624 income threshold, ages 18 to 60), reg 5 (R370 a month), reg 6 (90-day appeal) (LawLibrary (consolidated regulations))
- Amendment Regulations relating to COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress, 2026: GN R.7351 of 2 April 2026 (GG 54460), in force 1 April 2026 (Government Gazette (Department of Social Development))
SASSA means test thresholds, from 1 April 2026 — effective 1 April 2026 (some points still being verified)
- SASSA means test leaflet, as at 1 April 2026: income and asset thresholds per grant (SASSA)
- Regulations under the Social Assistance Act, GN R.2119 of 31 May 2022 (GG 46459): regs 19 to 22 and Annexures A to D (means test) (Government Gazette (Department of Social Development))
- Regulations relating to COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress, GN R.2042 of 2022 as amended: reg 2 (R624 income threshold, ages 18 to 60), reg 5 (R370 a month), reg 6 (90-day appeal) (LawLibrary (consolidated regulations))
- Still to verify: SASSA publishes the same income and asset limits for the War Veteran's Grant as for the Older Person's Grant (R9 350 / R1 584 000), but the Annexure A formula with the R2 420 war veteran's amount would give slightly higher limits. We show SASSA's published figures; confirm with SASSA for war veterans.
- Still to verify: Annexure A does not say how SASSA rounds a sliding-scale grant. Our estimate rounds down to the nearest rand.
SASSA grant payment dates, 2026/27 — effective 1 April 2026
Applying, appeals and keeping your grant — effective 30 May 2022
- Social Assistance Act 13 of 2004 (as amended to 30 May 2022): ss 5 to 13 (eligibility), s16 (absence from SA), s18 (appeals to the Independent Tribunal within 90 days) (LawLibrary (consolidated Act))
- Regulations under the Social Assistance Act, GN R.2119 of 31 May 2022 (GG 46459): regs 19 to 22 and Annexures A to D (means test) (Government Gazette (Department of Social Development))
- SASSA "You and Your Grant" 2026 booklet: qualifying criteria, documents, reviews, appeals and contact channels (SASSA)
- Regulations relating to COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress, GN R.2042 of 2022 as amended: reg 2 (R624 income threshold, ages 18 to 60), reg 5 (R370 a month), reg 6 (90-day appeal) (LawLibrary (consolidated regulations))

Amounts are the maximum monthly grant. The older person's, disability and war veteran's grants are means tested on a sliding scale, so some people receive less.
The Foster Child Grant rises twice in 2026/27: R1 290 from 1 April 2026 and R1 300 from 1 October 2026.
Older persons aged 75 and over, and war veterans, receive an extra R20 a month on top of the R2 400 base (R2 420 in total).
The SASSA means test leaflet prints the Disability Grant as R2 420. The Government Gazette (GN R.7287) and the DSD statement both say R2 400, so we show R2 400.
Income means income after permissible deductions (regulation 22): obligatory pension, provident or retirement annuity contributions (or up to 22% of net income if none), income tax, medical scheme fees and UIF contributions.
If you are married, SASSA tests the couple's combined income and assets against the married limits, whatever your marital regime (regulation 21).
The home you live in is not counted as an asset. Assets given away or sold cheaply to qualify are still counted for five years.
Older person's, disability and war veteran's grants use a sliding scale: the more you earn, the less you get, down to R100 a month. Below R100 no grant is paid.
Dates are when SASSA starts paying each group. Money paid into a bank account is usually available from that day; you do not have to withdraw it on the payment day.
SASSA schedules payments so that they are not on the 1st of the month, a Monday, a weekend or the day after a public holiday, except where it announces otherwise.
SRD (R370) payments follow their own per-applicant dates and are not part of this schedule.
Dates from April 2027 have not been announced yet. We add them only once SASSA, DSD or National Treasury publishes them.
You can appeal to the Independent Tribunal within 90 days of SASSA's decision (Social Assistance Act s18(2)); the Tribunal may condone a late appeal (s18(7)).
Tell SASSA before you leave South Africa for more than 90 days (s16).

2 points we are still verifying

SASSA publishes the same income and asset limits for the War Veteran's Grant as for the Older Person's Grant (R9 350 / R1 584 000), but the Annexure A formula with the R2 420 war veteran's amount would give slightly higher limits. We show SASSA's published figures; confirm with SASSA for war veterans.
Annexure A does not say how SASSA rounds a sliding-scale grant. Our estimate rounds down to the nearest rand.

Monthly amount, 2026/27

R2 400

per person aged 60 or older

From 1 April 2026: R2 400
Before 1 April 2026: R2 320
Aged 75 and older (additional payment): +R20

Government Gazette GN R.7287 of 23 March 2026. Amounts for 2027/28 are not yet published.

Who qualifies

You are a South African citizen, permanent resident or recognised refugee living in South Africa.
You are 60 or older.
You are not cared for in a state-funded institution and do not get another social grant for yourself.
You and your spouse pass the means test on income and assets.

If you need full-time care from another person, you can also apply for the Grant-in-Aid of R580 a month.

Means test

Income and assets of you and your spouse are tested. The grant reduces on a sliding scale as income rises.

Limit (from 1 April 2026)	Single	Married (combined)
Income a month	R9 350	R18 700
Income a year	R112 200	R224 400
Assets	R1 584 000	R3 168 000

Source: SASSA means test leaflet, checked against the formulas in the regulations (GN R.2119 of 2022, Annexures A to D).

Check the means test for the Older Person's Grant

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Your details

You appear to pass the means test

Estimated grant a month

R2 400.00

The full amount

How we worked it out

Income limit (single)R9 350.00
Your income may not be more than this amount.
Your monthly incomeR3 000.00
Within the limit
Asset limit (single)R1 584 000.00
Your countable assetsR0.00
Within the limit
Maximum grantR2 400.00
Sliding scale: 1.6 × annual grant − 0.4 × annual incomeR2 400.00
Annual figures, divided by 12 and rounded down. No grant under R100 a month.
Estimated grant a monthR2 400.00

This is an estimate, not a SASSA decision. SASSA checks your documents, bank statements and other records before deciding.

Payment dates

Next official payment day: Friday 30 October 2026

Older Person's Grant30 October 2026FridayRevised: was 3 November 2026Older person's grants
Disability Grant2 November 2026MondayRevised: was 4 November 2026Disability grants
Children's grants3 November 2026TuesdayRevised: was 5 November 2026Child Support, Foster Child and Care Dependency grants

Thursday 5 November 2026: Fourth-day payment for beneficiaries whose grants are under review.

SASSA revised the November 2026 dates ahead of the Local Government Elections, with National Treasury approval (media statement of 14 October 2026). Older persons are paid on Friday 30 October 2026.

Official source: SASSA media statement, 14 October 2026: revised November 2026 payment dates ahead of the Local Government Elections (SASSA) · Original schedule: DSD: SASSA confirms 2026/2027 social grant payment schedule and increases (approved by National Treasury on 20 March 2026)

See every month's official dates

How to apply

Apply at your nearest SASSA office, or online on services.sassa.gov.za. The application is free; no one may charge you to apply. According to SASSA's 2026 booklet you need:

Your 13-digit barcoded ID (and your spouse's if married), or a Section 24 refugee permit. SASSA accepts alternative identification if you do not have an ID.
Proof of marital status (marriage certificate, spouse's death certificate, divorce order, or an affidavit if your spouse deserted you).
Your latest payslip, and three months' bank statements for all your (and your spouse's) accounts.
A bank confirmation letter or bank statement for the account you want to be paid into.
Proof of deductions (tax, UIF, medical aid, pension) and of any assets.

See the full guide to applying.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the old age grant in 2026?

R2 400 a month from 1 April 2026. If you are 75 or older you get R2 420 (an extra R20). It was R2 320 before April 2026.

At what age can I get the old age grant?

From age 60, for both men and women.

Can I work and still get the old age grant?

Yes, if your income after deductions stays within the means test: R9 350 a month if you are single or R18 700 a month combined for a married couple. The grant reduces on a sliding scale as income rises.

Does my house count in the means test?

No. The home you live in is excluded. Other property counts at its municipal value, less any bond.

Can I get the old age grant and the SRD grant?

No. You cannot get the SRD grant and a social grant for yourself at the same time, and the SRD is only for people under 60.

Not SASSA. General information, not advice. KayaGrant is an independent website. It is not SASSA and is not affiliated with SASSA, the Department of Social Development or any government body. We summarise official information from SASSA, the Government Gazette, the Social Assistance Act and its regulations, and the Department of Social Development. It is general information, not legal or financial advice, and the means test result is an estimate: only SASSA can decide whether you qualify and how much you are paid. Always confirm with SASSA on 0800 60 10 11, at a SASSA office or on sassa.gov.za.

Who qualifies

Means test

Check the means test for the Older Person's Grant

Your details

How we worked it out

Payment dates

How to apply

Frequently asked questions

Other grants

Child Support Grant

Disability Grant

Foster Child Grant

Care Dependency Grant

War Veteran's Grant

Grant-in-Aid

Clear money answers for South African homes