Millions of South African social grant beneficiaries can now plan ahead for the remainder of the year—and the busy festive season—with the official release of the SASSA payment dates for October, November, and December 2026.
To help manage crowds and reduce congestion at payment points and ATMs, the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) continues to use its staggered payment system, prioritizing Older Persons Grants first, followed by Disability Grants, and then Children’s Grants.
Official SASSA Payment Calendar (Q4 2026)
| Month | Older Persons Grant | Disability Grant | Children’s Grant |
| October 2026 | Friday, 2 October | Monday, 5 October | Tuesday, 6 October |
| November 2026 | Tuesday, 3 November | Wednesday, 4 November | Thursday, 5 November |
| December 2026 | Wednesday, 2 December | Thursday, 3 December | Friday, 4 December |
Note for October: SASSA has allocated an additional review payment day on Wednesday, 7 October, for beneficiaries whose grants are subject to review or eLife certification.
Current SASSA Grant Amounts (2026)
Following the government’s grant adjustments, the standard monthly grant amounts remain as follows:
Older Persons Grant: R2,400
Disability Grant: R2,400
Care Dependency Grant: R2,400
War Veterans Grant: R2,420
Foster Child Grant: R1,290
Child Support Grant: R580
What about the SRD Grant? The R370 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) Grant operates on a separate schedule and does not follow the standard three-day rollout. Beneficiaries of the SRD grant are advised to check their individual status online to confirm their specific payment dates.
Tips for Beneficiaries
No Need to Rush: Beneficiaries are reminded that funds do not need to be withdrawn on the exact release date. Once the money is deposited into your account, it remains safe and available for whenever you choose to access it. Avoiding the queues on day one can save you time and hassle.
Budgeting for the Festive Season: With December payments landing early in the month (starting 2 December), recipients can carefully plan their household expenses and festive preparations in advance.