BREAKING: Official 2026 SASSA grant increases confirmed

Official 2026 SASSA grant increases have been confirmed by the agency following Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s annual Budget Speech. However, they are lower than many economists had predicted. There is concern this will anger the millions of beneficiaries who rely on these grants as their sole source of income.

OFFICIAL 2026 SASSA GRANT INCREASES

In an official statement from the National Treasury, the South African Social Security Agency confirms these are the official 2026 SASSA grant increases. Many speculated that they would have to stick close last year’s average inflation figure of 3.5%. And that is exactly what they’ve done, coming in just below at roughly 3.4% …

We’ve collated all the official 2026 SASSA grant increases for you in one table:

SASSA SRD remains unchanged till March 2027, by which time the long-awaited plans for an Income Support Grant will be put in place. However, as low as these increases sound (excluding SRD grant) government spending increases from R246.6 billion in 2025/26 to R276.5 billion in 2028/29.

OFFICIAL 2026 SASSA GRANT INCREASES CONFIRMED

Finance Minister Godongwana explained in his 2026 Budget Speech that government spending remains highly redistributive. Moreover, that its social-wage contribution still accounts for more than 60% cent of non-interest spending. “The social grant allocation has been adjusted down over the medium-term in line with the lower inflation outlook and improved grant targeting and verification that has seen great savings,” he said on Wednesday.

Therefore, in 2026/27, government will spend R2.67 trillion on various social protections for its neediest citizens. 70% of the social wage in 2026/27 provides support to 13.6-million school children and social grants to 26.5-million beneficiaries.

NEXT SASSA PAYMENT DATES

Nevertheless, while official 2026 SASSA grant increases have finally been confirmed, the actual payment dates for the first week of April have not. The month of March 2026 will see the ‘old’ SASSA grant payment amounts still in place. However, looking ahead, here is when they’re most likely to occur:

• Old-Age Grants: Tuesday 7 April 2026
• Disability and War Veterans Grants: Wednesday 8 April 2026
• Children’s Grants: Thursday 9 April 2026

Beneficiaries should note that payments may take 2-3 days to reflect in their bank account.

But what do you think? Are you disappointed at the 3.4% SASSA grant increases? In light of such a positive Budget Speech, should more have been done for grant beneficiaries? Let us know in the comments section below …