World

December 2026 SASSA Old‑Age Grants Set for 2 December Payment Amid 33‑Day Gap

By Ray Leathern

Beneficiaries of the South African Social Security Agency’s (SASSA) Old‑Age Grants will receive their December 2026 payment on Wednesday 2 December, following a shift of the November payday to avoid clashes with local government elections. The new schedule creates a 33‑day interval between disbursements, meaning recipients who normally budget R80 per day over a month will now average R72 per day. The country’s four million elderly state pensioners will not see any increase in grant amounts for 2027; the last adjustment was an R80 rise in April 2026. Current grant levels are R2 400 for ages 60 to 74 (up from R2 320) and R2 420 for ages 75 and older (up from R2 340). SASSA will maintain strict review and eLife certification policies to control budgets, and the Auditor‑General has highlighted annual illegal withdrawals of SASSA grants, including payments to employees, deceased persons and foreign nationals. To prevent fraud, SASSA cross‑checks applicants’ personal data with other government departments and banking records. Applicants who pass review receive a deferred payment on Monday 7 December. New applicants must meet income and asset limits: monthly income below R9 350 (single) or R18 700 (married), annual income below R112 200 (single) or R224 400 (married), and total assets not exceeding R1 584 000 (single) or R3 168 000 (married). Required documents for in‑person appointments include a valid RSA ID, a three‑month bank statement, proof of marital status, residence, income, assets, private pension, UIF membership or discharge certificate, and, if applicable, a will and liquidation accounts. Applications typically take about three months to process; a first payment is expected around March 2027, with back‑payment to the application date if all documents are correct. Applicants can complete eLife certification and biometric verification online via the SASSA Service Portal, though the portal may be offline intermittently. Assistance is available for those who are elderly, ill or in remote areas, provided a doctor’s letter and certified copies of documentation are supplied. SASSA can be contacted through its toll‑free line 0800 601 011, head office 012 400 2322, or email grantsenquiries@sassa.gov.za.