SASSA confirms grant payment dates for October to December

SASSA beneficiaries now have confirmed payment dates for the final three months of 2026, giving millions of South Africans the opportunity to plan ahead for the festive season.

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) pays Older Persons Grants first, followed by Disability Grants and then Children’s Grants.

The final three months of the 2026 payment calendar are as follows:

Month	Older Persons	Disability	Children’s
October	Friday, 2 October	Monday, 5 October	Tuesday, 6 October
November	Tuesday, 3 November	Wednesday, 4 November	Thursday, 5 November
December	Wednesday, 2 December	Thursday, 3 December	Friday, 4 December

October SASSA payments

The next major payment cycle begins with the Older Persons Grant on Friday, 2 October.

Disability Grant beneficiaries will receive their payments on Monday, 5 October, followed by Children’s Grant beneficiaries on Tuesday, 6 October.

SASSA has also allocated a fourth payment day in October for certain beneficiaries whose grants are subject to review or eLife certification. This falls on Wednesday, 7 October.

November grants

The November payment cycle begins on Tuesday, 3 November, when Older Persons Grant beneficiaries are scheduled to receive their money.

Disability Grant payments follow on Wednesday, 4 November, with Children’s Grants paid on Thursday, 5 November.

December payment dates

The final major grant payment cycle of the year starts on Wednesday, 2 December, when Older Persons Grant beneficiaries are scheduled to be paid.

Disability Grant beneficiaries will receive their payments on Thursday, 3 December, while Children’s Grants are scheduled for Friday, 4 December.

Why SASSA payments are staggered

SASSA uses a staggered payment system to help manage demand and reduce congestion at payment points.

Beneficiaries should also remember that they do not have to withdraw their money on the day it is paid.

Once the grant has been deposited, the money remains available in the beneficiary’s account.

This means beneficiaries can choose when to access their funds rather than rushing to a payment point on the scheduled payment date.

How much will SASSA beneficiaries receive?

Following the grant increases introduced in April 2026, the main grant amounts are:

• 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

The SRD grant remains separate from the permanent social grant payment schedule.

The R370 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) Grant has individual payment dates rather than following the three-day payment cycle.

Beneficiaries receiving the SRD grant should check their personal SASSA status for their specific payment date.

With the final three payment cycles of the year now confirmed, beneficiaries can plan their household budgets around their respective payment dates – particularly with the December festive season approaching.