SASSA Grant Increase April 2026
New Amounts for Every Grant
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana confirmed the increases on 25 February 2026. They take effect from 1 April. Here is exactly what changes — and what doesn't.
More than 26 million South Africans are set to receive bigger social grants from 1 April 2026. The increases were confirmed by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana in the 2026 Budget Speech delivered in Parliament on 25 February 2026.
The increases are modest — but they are above inflation. South Africa's average inflation rate in 2025 settled at around 3.5%. Most grants are going up by between 3.4% and 3.7%. That means the real value of your grant increases slightly in 2026.
There is one big exception: the SRD R370 grant does not increase. It stays at R370 until at least March 2027.
New SASSA Grant Amounts from April 2026
The table below shows every grant, the old amount, the new amount, and exactly how much more you will receive. These figures come directly from the National Treasury 2026 Budget Review.
| Grant Type | Current Amount | New Amount (April 2026) | Increase | % Rise |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Older Persons Grant (60–74 years) | R2,315 | R2,400 | +R80 | 3.7% |
| Older Persons Grant (75+ years) | R2,335 | R2,420 | +R85 | 3.6% |
| War Veterans Grant | R2,335 | R2,420 | +R85 | 3.6% |
| Disability Grant | R2,315 | R2,400 | +R80 | 3.7% |
| Care Dependency Grant | R2,315 | R2,400 | +R80 | 3.7% |
| Foster Care Grant (April 2026) | R1,250 | R1,290 | +R40 | 3.2% |
| Foster Care Grant (October 2026) | R1,290 | R1,300 | +R10 Oct | 0.8% |
| Child Support Grant (per child) | R560 | R580 | +R20 | 3.6% |
| Grant-in-Aid | R560 | R580 | +R20 | 3.6% |
| Social Relief of Distress (SRD) | R370 | R370 | No change | 0% |
💡 Important: These amounts take effect from April 2026
- Your March 2026 payment will still be at the old (current) rate.
- The Foster Care Grant gets a two-stage increase — R40 in April, then R10 more in October.
- The increases apply to all existing beneficiaries automatically. You do not need to reapply.
- All new amounts were confirmed in the National Treasury 2026 Budget Review, published 25 February 2026.
Before vs After — Side by Side
Here's a clear comparison of the key grants — what you're getting now, versus what you'll receive from April.
📌 Current Amounts (Until March 2026)
✅ New Amounts (From April 2026)
The SRD R370 Grant — What's Happening
The SRD grant will not increase. It stays at R370 per month.
Many organisations and trade unions called on the government to raise it. The minister did not. The reason: the SRD grant is not a permanent grant. It is a temporary measure that is currently being redesigned.
Here is what we know:
📌 SRD Grant — Key Facts for 2026
- The SRD grant remains at R370 per month with no increase.
- It has been extended until 31 March 2027. R36.9 billion has been allocated for this extension.
- President Ramaphosa confirmed in his 2026 State of the Nation Address that the SRD will eventually become a permanent "livelihoods grant" focused on helping people find work.
- Any formal changes to the SRD grant structure will be announced at the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) later in 2026.
- For now, you can still apply and receive the R370 if you qualify. Check your status at srd.sassa.gov.za.
When Will You Receive the Increased Amount?
The new amounts apply from 1 April 2026. Your first payment at the increased rate will be on your regular April payment date.
Based on the standard SASSA monthly schedule, April 2026 payment dates are expected to be:
| Grant Type | Expected April 2026 Payment Date | New Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Older Persons Grant (60–74 years) | Thursday, 2 April 2026 | R2,400 |
| Older Persons Grant (75+ / War Veterans) | Thursday, 2 April 2026 | R2,420 |
| Disability Grant | Friday, 3 April 2026 | R2,400 |
| Care Dependency Grant | Monday, 6 April 2026 | R2,400 |
| Child Support Grant | Monday, 6 April 2026 | R580 per child |
| Foster Care Grant | Monday, 6 April 2026 | R1,290 per child |
| SRD Grant | Late April 2026 (individual dates) | R370 (unchanged) |
Note: April 2026 payment dates are projected based on the standard SASSA payment pattern. Official dates will be confirmed by SASSA in late March. Check the SASSA payment dates page for confirmed dates as they are released.
Do You Need to Do Anything to Get the Increase?
No. Nothing.
If you are already an approved SASSA beneficiary in good standing, the new amount will be paid automatically from April. SASSA adjusts all grant amounts system-wide on 1 April. You do not need to visit an office, call anyone, or fill in any forms.
However, there are a few situations where your payment could still be affected:
- Biometric verification outstanding. If you have not yet completed your biometric enrollment, visit your nearest SASSA office with your South African ID. See our biometric verification guide.
- A review notification you haven't responded to. If SASSA sent you an SMS about a grant review and you ignored it, your grant may be suspended. Visit a SASSA office immediately.
- Outdated banking details. If you changed banks or your account was closed, update your banking information at SASSA before the end of March to ensure April's payment arrives on time.
- ID document issues. If your ID has expired or there is a name mismatch between your SASSA records and Home Affairs, get this resolved before April.
- SRD reapplication. If your SRD status shows "Pending" or "Declined," you will need to reapply or follow up at srd.sassa.gov.za. The SRD is not automatically renewed.
SASSA's Compliance Crackdown in 2026
The good news is higher payments. The important caveat: SASSA is cutting grants at the same time.
In 2025/2026 the agency audited more than 291,000 beneficiaries. It cancelled over 34,000 grants. It reduced amounts for around 8,600 people. And it is saving the government roughly R36 million in the current financial year through these checks.
All new SASSA applicants are now required to complete biometric verification before receiving their first payment. Existing beneficiaries are being called in for reviews on a rolling basis. If you receive a review notice — via SMS, letter, or in person — respond promptly.
For help resolving payment issues, visit our SASSA payment issues guide or our dedicated SASSA appeals page if your grant has been suspended.
The Future "Livelihoods Grant" — What We Know
The SRD grant as we know it has an expiry date. President Ramaphosa stated in his 2026 State of the Nation Address that the R370 SRD grant will be transformed into a permanent "livelihoods grant" — one designed to support people while they actively look for work, rather than simply providing monthly income.
Here is what is confirmed so far:
📌 Livelihoods Grant — What's Known
- The SRD grant continues at R370 until 31 March 2027.
- National Treasury has provisionally allocated R38 billion for 2027/28 and R39 billion for 2028/29 — suggesting the replacement grant will cost more than the current SRD.
- The new grant is intended to be permanent and linked to job-seeking activity.
- Formal policy details will be announced at the MTBPS later in 2026.
- No date, amount, or eligibility criteria have been officially confirmed for the livelihoods grant yet.
This is a significant development for the roughly 8–9 million SRD recipients. We will update this page as more details emerge. See our SRD grant FAQ for current eligibility and application details.
Frequently Asked Questions
From 1 April 2026 the new amounts are: Old Age / Disability / Care Dependency → R2,400 (+R80). War Veterans → R2,420 (+R85). Foster Care → R1,290 in April (+R40), then R1,300 in October (+R10). Child Support / Grant-in-Aid → R580 (+R20). The SRD stays at R370 with no increase.
No. Approved beneficiaries in good standing receive the increase automatically. No reapplication needed. But check that your biometric verification is done, your banking details are current, and you have responded to any review SMS from SASSA.
April 2026 payment dates are expected to be: Older Persons Grant — 2 April; Disability Grant — 3 April; Children's Grants (Child Support, Foster Care, Care Dependency) — 6 April. Official dates will be confirmed by SASSA in late March 2026. See the full 2026 SASSA payment schedule for updates.
No. The SRD remains at R370 until 31 March 2027. It was not increased in the 2026 Budget despite calls from civil society. The government has allocated R36.9 billion to extend it at R370 until March 2027. Future changes to the SRD — including its replacement by a "livelihoods grant" — will be detailed at the MTBPS later in 2026.
Marginally above. South Africa's 2025 average inflation rate settled at around 3.5%. The Old Age Grant rises 3.7% and the Child Support Grant 3.6% — both slightly ahead of inflation. This is smaller than the 4.8% increase in 2025, which is why many beneficiaries are disappointed. However, the increase does protect the real value of the grant against rising prices.
The Older Persons Grant (also called the Old Age Pension or Old Age Grant) rises to R2,400 for beneficiaries aged 60–74 and R2,420 for those aged 75 and older (same as the War Veterans Grant). Both increases take effect from the first April 2026 payment date.
The Child Support Grant increases to R580 per child per month from April 2026. That is R20 more than the current R560. If you receive the grant for more than one child, you will receive R580 for each qualifying child.
The Disability Grant rises to R2,400 per month from April 2026. This is an increase of R80. No action is required — the new amount is paid automatically to all current Disability Grant recipients.
The Foster Care Grant gets a two-stage increase. From April 2026 it rises to R1,290 per child (up from R1,250). Then from October 2026 it increases by a further R10 to R1,300 per child. Both increases are applied automatically.
Yes. SASSA is running a significant compliance programme in 2026. Over 291,000 beneficiaries were reviewed in 2025/26 and more than 34,000 grants were cancelled. SASSA checks bank accounts, income records, and credit bureaus. If you receive a review SMS, go to your nearest SASSA office immediately with your ID. Ignoring a review notice is one of the most common reasons for grant suspension. If your grant is cancelled and you believe it was an error, see our SASSA appeal guide.
The "livelihoods grant" is a proposed replacement for the SRD R370 grant. President Ramaphosa announced in his 2026 State of the Nation Address that the SRD would eventually be transformed into a permanent grant aimed at supporting people who are actively job-seeking. No amount, start date, or eligibility criteria have been confirmed. Details are expected at the MTBPS later in 2026. Until then, the SRD continues at R370 until 31 March 2027.