Which Grant Do I Qualify For?
Not sure which grant fits you? One means test checks them all and recommends your options.
Knowing the current value of each SASSA grant helps you plan your household budget and confirm you are being paid the right amount. This guide lists every grant available in 2026, the monthly amount, who it is aimed at, and how the values change through the year. All figures below reflect the rates in effect from September 2026.
Full grant amounts table
| Grant | Monthly amount | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| SRD R370 | R370 | Unemployed adults aged 18–59 |
| Old Age (60–74) | R2,400 | Older persons aged 60 to 74 |
| Old Age (75+) | R2,420 | Older persons aged 75 and above |
| Disability | R2,400 | Adults 18–59 with a medical disability |
| War Veterans | R2,420 | Veterans of specific conflicts |
| Care Dependency | R2,400 | Carers of severely disabled children |
| Foster Child | R1,290 | Court-appointed foster caregivers |
| Child Support | R580 | Caregivers, per qualifying child |
| Grant-in-Aid | R580 | Add-on for those needing full-time care |
Each amount is paid monthly. To understand which of these you might receive, see our full eligibility overview.
The personal grants
The largest grants are the personal grants for adults who cannot support themselves through work.
Old Age Grant
The Old Age Grant pays R2,400 a month to people aged 60 to 74, rising to R2,420 once you turn 75. The extra R20 recognises the higher needs of the oldest pensioners. It is subject to the means test, which sets a single income ceiling of R9,350 a month and a married ceiling of R18,700 combined.
Disability Grant
The Disability Grant also pays R2,400 and is for adults aged 18 to 59 who are medically assessed as unable to work. When a recipient reaches 60 they usually move onto the Old Age Grant, as you can only hold one personal grant at a time.
War Veterans Grant
A small number of qualifying veterans receive the War Veterans Grant of R2,420 a month, the same figure paid to pensioners aged 75 and over. It is subject to the same means test as the Old Age Grant.
Grants for children and carers
Several grants support children through their caregivers.
- Child Support Grant — R580 per child. Paid to the primary caregiver for each qualifying child, with the caregiver's income tested against R5,800 (single) or R11,600 (married).
- Foster Child Grant — R1,290 per child. Requires a court order and has no means test.
- Care Dependency Grant — R2,400. For a child with a severe disability needing permanent care, with a far higher income limit of R24,000 (single) or R48,000 (married).
Because these are paid per child, a caregiver can receive several at once. Read our multiple grants guide for how they stack.
The SRD R370 grant
The Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant pays R370 a month to unemployed adults aged 18 to 59 who have no other income support. It is the smallest grant but reaches the most people. Unlike the personal grants, it uses a monthly bank-deposit rule with a R624 income threshold rather than an asset test. The grant has been extended to 31 March 2027. Use our means test calculator to check where you fall against each grant's limits, or the SRD status calculator for the R624 rule specifically.
How the amounts compare
It can be striking how far apart the grants sit in value. The personal grants for adults are roughly four times the Child Support Grant and more than six times the SRD grant. That gap reflects who each grant is meant to support: the personal grants are intended as a person's main income, while the Child Support and SRD grants are top-ups aimed at specific costs.
| Tier | Grants | Monthly value |
|---|---|---|
| Highest | Old Age (75+), War Veterans | R2,420 |
| High | Old Age (60–74), Disability, Care Dependency | R2,400 |
| Middle | Foster Child | R1,290 |
| Add-on / child | Child Support, Grant-in-Aid | R580 |
| Relief | SRD | R370 |
Remember that Grant-in-Aid is not a grant in its own right — it is an extra R580 layered on top of a qualifying personal grant for people who need full-time care.
Worked examples of household totals
Because grants stack in defined ways, a household's total can be much larger than any single figure. Here are three realistic combinations.
A pensioner raising grandchildren
A 76-year-old grandmother receives the Old Age Grant at the higher R2,420 rate. She is the primary caregiver for two grandchildren and draws a Child Support Grant of R580 for each. Her household total from SASSA is R2,420 plus R1,120, or R3,460 a month.
An unemployed single parent
A 34-year-old unemployed mother of one qualifies for the SRD R370 grant and, as the child's caregiver, a Child Support Grant of R580. Her total is R930 a month, provided less than R624 enters her own bank account in the assessed month. Our SRD vs Child Support guide walks through this pairing.
A frail pensioner needing care
An 80-year-old man on the Old Age Grant of R2,420 also needs full-time care and qualifies for Grant-in-Aid of R580. His total is R2,900 a month. The Grant-in-Aid rides on his existing grant rather than being a separate application from scratch.
How the amounts are set
SASSA grant values are not set by SASSA alone. They are decided nationally through the annual budget process and confirmed by the Minister of Social Development, then paid out by SASSA. This matters for two reasons. First, it means the figures are the same across every province — a pensioner in the Eastern Cape and one in Gauteng receive the identical Old Age Grant. Second, it means the amounts move on a national timetable rather than whenever an individual office chooses, so you cannot negotiate a higher figure at a local branch.
The amounts you actually receive can still differ from the headline figure for personal reasons. The Old Age and Disability grants use a sliding scale, so a recipient with income close to the means-test ceiling is paid less than the maximum. A recovered overpayment can also reduce a specific month's deposit. Neither of these changes the official grant value — they change what lands in one person's account.
When amounts increase
SASSA reviews grant values twice a year, with increases announced in the national budget and typically applied in April and October. Not every grant rises at each review, and the amounts of the increases vary year to year.
Because the figures shift, always confirm the current value before relying on it. Our page on grant increases tracks the latest changes as they are announced. When an increase is applied, it usually appears in the payment for that cycle, so a March figure and an April figure for the same grant can differ. If you are budgeting several months ahead, it is safer to plan around the current figure and treat any increase as a bonus rather than assume one will arrive.
Checking you are paid correctly
If the amount deposited does not match the figure for your grant, there are a few common causes:
- A sliding-scale reduction because your income is close to the means-test ceiling.
- A deduction for a recovered overpayment.
- A pending increase that has not yet been applied to your account.
- A payment split across dates, so you are only seeing part of it.
You can review what landed in your account using our balance checking guide. If a payment is short or missing entirely, our late or missing payment guide covers the next steps. If the figure still looks wrong, contact SASSA on 0800 60 10 11.
Common misconceptions about the amounts
- "Everyone on the Old Age Grant gets exactly R2,400." Recipients aged 75 and over receive R2,420, and anyone near the income ceiling receives less through the sliding scale.
- "The amount is different in each province." It is not. The figures are set nationally and are identical countrywide.
- "An increase applies from January." Increases are typically applied in April and October, not at the start of the calendar year.
- "Grant-in-Aid is a separate grant I can apply for on its own." It is an add-on of R580 that only exists on top of a qualifying personal grant.
- "A short payment means my grant was cut." More often it reflects a sliding-scale reduction, a recovered overpayment, or a split payment, as covered above.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the SRD grant in 2026?
The SRD grant is R370 per month for eligible unemployed adults aged 18 to 59. It has been extended to 31 March 2027 and is assessed on the money that enters your bank account each month.
Why is my Old Age Grant less than R2,400?
The Old Age Grant is means tested on a sliding scale. If your income is close to the upper limit, your monthly payment is reduced below the maximum. Our means test guide explains how the scale works.
When do SASSA grants increase?
Grant amounts are usually reviewed twice a year, with increases applied in April and October. The size of each increase varies, so check the current figure before budgeting around it.
Which SASSA grant pays the most?
The War Veterans Grant and the Old Age Grant for people aged 75 and over are the highest at R2,420 a month. The Disability, Care Dependency and standard Old Age grants follow closely at R2,400. The SRD grant, at R370, is the smallest.
Does the R20 difference between R2,400 and R2,420 apply to everyone?
No. The higher R2,420 rate applies to Old Age Grant recipients aged 75 and over, and to War Veterans. Recipients aged 60 to 74, along with the Disability and Care Dependency grants, receive R2,400.
Can my household receive more than one grant?
Yes. You may hold only one personal grant, but child grants are paid per child and can be combined with a personal grant, and Grant-in-Aid can be added on top. Our multiple grants guide sets out exactly which combinations are allowed.
This is an independent helper site. Always verify the latest amounts at SASSA or on 0800 60 10 11.