SASSA Older Persons Grant 2026: Amount, Requirements & How to Apply

Published 01 November 2026

SASSA Older Persons Grant 2026: Amount, Requirements and How to Apply

The older persons grant — still widely known by its old name, the old age pension — is the monthly grant SASSA pays to older South Africans who can no longer fully support themselves. In short: if you are 60 years or older, live in South Africa, and your income and assets fall below SASSA's limits, you can apply. The maximum amount is R2 400 per month, rising to R2 420 per month if you are older than 75. Applying is free, and if your application is approved, you are paid from the date you applied. This guide covers how much it pays in 2026, who qualifies, the means test, the documents you need, and exactly how to apply.

How Much Is the Older Persons Grant in 2026?

The older persons grant pays a maximum of R2 400 per month. If you are older than 75 years, the maximum is R2 420 per month. These are the amounts published on the official gov.za service page for the older person's grant.

The word "maximum" matters. The grant is means tested, so if you have other income — for example a small private pension — the amount you actually receive can be lower than the maximum. SASSA works this out from the income and asset information you declare when you apply.

Grant amounts are increased from time to time by government announcement, so treat these figures as the current published amounts and always confirm the latest amount on official SASSA channels before relying on them.

Extra help if you need full-time care: If you already receive the older persons grant and, because of a physical or mental disability, you need regular attendance by another person to manage daily activities, you may also qualify for a grant-in-aid on top of your grant. It cannot be paid on its own — if the main grant lapses, the grant-in-aid lapses too. Ask about it at a SASSA office.

Who Qualifies?

You can apply if:

• You are 60 years or older.
• You are a South African citizen, permanent resident or refugee.
• You live in South Africa.
• You do not receive any other social grant for yourself.
• You are not cared for in a state institution.
• You and your spouse (if you are married) pass the means test — your income and assets must be below the limits explained in the next section.

Note that the bar is on grants you receive for yourself. Being the caregiver who claims a child support grant for a grandchild in your care is a different situation, because that money is for the child — if you are unsure how the two interact in your case, ask at a SASSA office when you apply.

The Means Test Explained

The means test is SASSA's check of what you earn and what you own. If you are married, you and your spouse are assessed together. The limits published on the official gov.za page are:

• Income: not more than R112 200 per year (about R9 350 per month) if you are single, or R224 400 per year (about R18 700 per month) combined if you are married.
• Assets: not more than R1 584 000 if you are single, or R3 168 000 if you are married.

When you apply, SASSA looks at the full picture you declare: your income and any dividends, your assets including the value of property you own, and any private pension you receive. That is why the application asks for bank statements and proof of income and assets (see the documents list below) — the means test is worked out from those papers, not from a single payslip.

Two practical points. First, these limits are reviewed by government from time to time, so if you were turned away in a previous year, it is worth checking the current limits before assuming you still do not qualify. Second, if your income is close to the limit, apply anyway and let SASSA do the calculation — the means test is their job, and a small amount of other income does not automatically mean you get nothing, because the full R2 400 is a maximum rather than an all-or-nothing amount.

Not sure whether your own income and assets fall inside these limits? Run your numbers in our SASSA Means Test Checker - it uses the same 2026/27 thresholds explained above.

Documents You Need

Take the following to the SASSA office when you apply:

• Your 13-digit bar-coded identity document (ID).
• Proof of your marital status (if applicable).
• Proof of residence.
• Proof of your income and/or dividends (if any).
• Proof of your assets, including the value of the property you own.
• Proof of your private pension (if any).
• Your bank statements of the previous three months.
• If you were employed, proof of your UIF membership (the "blue book") or a discharge certificate from your previous employer.
• If your spouse died within the last five years, a copy of the will and the first and final liquidation and distribution accounts, where applicable.

If you do not have an ID: you must complete an affidavit on the standard SASSA format in the presence of a Commissioner of Oaths who is not a SASSA official, and bring a sworn statement signed by a reputable person — such as a councillor, traditional leader, social worker, minister of religion or school principal — who can verify your name and age. The SASSA official will take your fingerprints and refer you to the Department of Home Affairs to apply for an ID while your grant application is processed. Be warned: if you do not get the ID, your grant will be suspended.

If you are too old or sick to travel: a family member or friend can apply on your behalf. That person 

How to Apply Step by Step

Unlike the SRD grant, the older persons grant application is made in person at a SASSA office. Application forms are not available online — you get the form at the office. The process works like this:

1. Go to the SASSA office nearest to where you live, with all the documents listed above.
2. Complete the application form in the presence of the SASSA officer. Only you as the applicant, or a SASSA official, may complete the form.
3. The officer will interview you and tell you whether you qualify for the grant.
4. Keep the receipt you are given. It is your proof that you applied — store it somewhere safe.
5. Wait for the outcome. It may take up to three months to process your application.
6. If your grant is approved, you will be paid from the date on which you applied — so the months spent waiting are not lost money.

The service is free. Nobody — no agent, no middleman, no website — may charge you a fee to apply for this grant. If someone asks for payment, walk away and go directly to a SASSA office.

How and When You Will Be Paid

SASSA pays the grant through one of the following methods:

• Cash at a specific pay point on a particular day.
• Electronic deposit into your bank or Postbank account. (Your bank may charge you for the service.)
• An institution, such as an old age home, where that applies.

If you are unable to collect the money yourself, you can appoint a procurator at the SASSA office, or give someone power of attorney to collect the grant on your behalf.

As for dates: SASSA pays the grants in a set order each month, and older persons grants are paid first, before disability grants and children's grants. SASSA announces the exact payment dates for each month through its official channels ahead of time — check the official announcement or our SASSA payment dates guide rather than relying on last month's dates, because they shift slightly from month to month. There is no need to rush to withdraw on the first day — money paid into your account stays there until you use it.

Reviews, Suspension and When the Grant Lapses

Your grant is not necessarily final forever — SASSA can decide that it must be reviewed. The income you declared when you applied forms the basis for that decision. You will be notified three months in advance of a review date, or of the date on which your life certificate (proof that you are still alive) is due. If you receive your money through a bank, an institution or a procurator, you must complete a life certificate at a SASSA office every year.

Your grant may be suspended if:

• Your circumstances change.
• A review outcome goes against you.
• You fail to co-operate when your grant is reviewed.
• You commit fraud or misrepresent yourself.
• There was a mistake when your grant was approved.

Your grant will lapse when you pass away, are admitted to a state institution, do not claim for three consecutive months, or are absent from the country. One special rule catches many families out: if you are admitted to an institution that has a contract with the state to care for you, your grant is reduced to 25% of the maximum amount from the fourth month after admission. The full grant is reinstated immediately from the date you are discharged.

Why Applications Are Declined — and How to Appeal

Most unsuccessful applications fail on the basic rules above. The common reasons are:

• Means test: your (and your spouse's) income or assets are above the limits.
• Another grant: you already receive a social grant for yourself.
• State institution: you are cared for in a state institution.
• Age or status: you are not yet 60, or you cannot show that you are a citizen, permanent resident or refugee living in South Africa.
• Missing documents: no ID, no bank statements, or no proof of income and assets, so SASSA cannot complete the means test.

If your application is not approved, SASSA must inform you in writing why it was unsuccessful. Read that letter carefully — it tells you exactly which rule you failed, and sometimes the problem is a fixable document issue. If the problem is on your side, also read our guide on why SASSA grants are declined and how to fix it.

If you disagree with the decision, you can appeal to the Minister of Social Development at the national Department of Social Development. The appeal must be lodged within 90 days of being notified that your application was unsuccessful — do not let that deadline pass.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How much is the older persons grant per month in 2026?

The maximum is R2 400 per month, and R2 420 per month if you are older than 75, according to the official gov.za service page. Because the grant is means tested, your actual amount can be lower if you have other income. Amounts change with government announcements, so confirm the current figure on official SASSA channels.

2. At what age can I apply for the old age pension?

From 60 years old. The older persons grant is the current name for what used to be called the old age pension.

3. Can I still qualify if I have a small private pension?

Possibly, yes. The means test allows income of up to R112 200 per year if you are single or R224 400 per year if you are married (combined), and assets up to R1 584 000 (single) or R3 168 000 (married). Your grant may be less than the maximum, but some income does not automatically disqualify you — apply and let SASSA calculate.

4. How long does it take, and from when am I paid?

Processing may take up to three months. If your grant is approved, you are paid from the date on which you applied, so keep your application receipt as proof.

5. Can someone else apply or collect on my behalf?

Yes. If you are too old or sick to travel, a family member or friend can apply for you with a letter from you and/or a doctor's note. For collection, you can appoint a procurator at the SASSA office or give someone power of attorney.

6. What happens if I move into an old age home?

If the institution has a contract with the state to care for you, your grant is reduced to 25% of the maximum from the fourth month after admission, and reinstated in full when you are discharged. If you are admitted to a state institution itself, the grant lapses.

7. My application was declined. What can I do?

SASSA will tell you in writing why. If you disagree, appeal to the Minister of Social Development within 90 days of the notification. If the reason is missing documents or a correctable issue, fix that first and go back to the SASSA office.

Conclusion

The older persons grant — a maximum of R2 400 a month, or R2 420 for those over 75 — is the main state pension for South Africans over 60 who pass the means test. Apply in person at your nearest SASSA office with your ID, three months of bank statements and proof of income, assets and residence; keep your receipt; respond to reviews and life certificate requests on time; and always check official SASSA channels for the exact payment dates each month.

Disclaimer: Payment dates and amounts change — always confirm on the official site sassa.gov.za.