The South African Social Security Agency has released the official payment schedule for social grants for the 2026/2027 financial year, giving beneficiaries clear guidance on when to expect their monthly payments.
In a statement on Monday, the agency confirmed that the payment schedule was approved by the National Treasury on Friday, 20 March.
April 2026 Payment Dates
- Older Persons Grant: 2 April
- Disability Grant: 7 April
- Children’s Grants: 8 April
May 2026 Payment Dates
- Older Persons Grant: 5 May
- Disability Grant: 6 May
- Children’s Grants: 7 May
General Payment Schedule Guidelines
SASSA explained that grant payments are structured to occur as early as possible each month and are staggered over three days:
- Older Persons Grant: usually paid on the 2nd of the month
- Disability Grant: usually paid on the 3rd
- Children’s Grants: usually paid on the 4th
Important Payment Rules
To ensure smooth processing and access to funds, the following rules apply:
- Payments are not made on the 1st of the month or on a Monday
- Payments are not scheduled the day after a public holiday
- Payment dates do not fall on weekends
If a payment date falls on a weekend or public holiday, it will be moved to the next working day.
Social Grant Increases (Effective April 2026)
As announced by the Minister of Finance during the Budget Speech, grant amounts will increase as follows:
- Older Persons, Disability, and Care Dependency Grants: +R80 (now R2 400)
- War Veterans Grant: +R80 (now R2 420)
- Foster Child Grant: +R40 (now R1 290)
- Child Support Grant and Grant-In-Aid: +R20 (now R580)
Support for Beneficiaries
SASSA has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring timely payments. Beneficiaries who do not receive their grants on the specified dates are encouraged to visit their nearest SASSA office for assistance.
For the full payment scheduleor other related information, beneficiaries can visit the official SASSA portal.