The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has announced the grant payment schedule for January 2026. This update is crucial for millions of South Africans who depend on social grants for survival.
Sassa distributes over 18 million permanent grant payments, including the Older Persons pension grant, Disability grant, War Veterans grant, Care Dependency grant, Foster Child grant, Child Support grant, Child Support grant Top-Up and Grant-in-aid. This is in addition to the approximately 8 million people who receive Social Relief of Distress Grant payments.
January 2026 Payment Schedule
Grant payments for January 2026 will commence as follows:
- Older Persons Grant: 6th January 2026
- Disability Grants: 7th January 2026
- Children’s Grants: 8th January 2026
SRD grant payments, typically issued in the last week of each month, are yet to be confirmed for January 2026.
Grant Amounts for January 2026
Sassa has also provided details of the current grant amounts:
- Older Persons Grant: R2,320 (R2,340 for beneficiaries aged 75 and above)
- Disability Grant: R2,320
- War Veterans Grant: R2,340
- Care Dependency Grant: R2,320
- Foster Care Grant: R1,250
- Child Support Grant: R560
- Child Support Grant (Top-Up): R530 + R280
- SRD Grant: R370
Payment Schedule Policy
Sassa typically releases grant payment schedules for 12 months, covering April to March. Payments begin on the second day of each month unless this falls on a weekend or public holiday.
Future Grant Increases
The Finance Minister announces adjustments to grant amounts during the annual budget speech, with increases taking effect in April and October.
