The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has confirmed the social grant payment dates for October 2026. Payments will again be spread over several days.
Sassa staggers the payments to ease pressure on banks, ATMs and the shops that pay out grants.
Older persons will be paid first, on Friday, 2 October. Disability grants follow on Monday, 5 October.
Children’s grants will be paid on Tuesday, 6 October. These include the child support grant, the foster care grant, the care dependency grant and related grants.
A fourth payment day is set for Wednesday, 7 October. It covers grant reviews, eLife certification and other exceptions.
Sassa pays older persons and people with disabilities first. This is meant to reduce crowding for people who may struggle to get around.
The Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant of R370 runs on its own cycle. It is expected to be paid in batches during the last week of the month.
SRD payments should fall roughly between 26 and 30 October. Exact SRD payment dates differ from person to person. Beneficiaries should check their status on the official Sassa SRD portal.
The older persons grant for people aged 60 to 74 pays about R2 400 a month. The disability grant and the care dependency grant also pay about R2 400.
People aged 75 and older receive about R2 420 a month, the same as the war veterans grant. The foster child grant pays between R1 290 and R1 300.
The child support grant and the grant-in-aid each pay R580 a month.
Grant money stays in a beneficiary’s account after the payment date. People do not need to rush to an ATM, shop or pay point on the first day. Collecting later helps avoid long queues.
Some beneficiaries received an SMS saying their grant is under review or needs eLife certification. They are likely to be paid on 7 October.
These beneficiaries should finish the required steps quickly. This helps them avoid delays or a suspended grant in later months.
People who want to change their banking details or payment method must visit a Sassa office. They need a valid ID and documents that confirm their bank account.
Changes must be made before the 19th of the month to apply in the next payment cycle.
Beneficiaries should check their bank account or Sassa card on their payment date before going to an office. They should use official channels only.
Be careful of anyone who asks for personal details or money in connection with a grant.
Grant money can be drawn at shops such as Pick n Pay, Shoprite, Checkers and Boxer. It can also be drawn at ATMs and banks.
Beneficiaries should keep their contact details up to date with Sassa so they receive SMS alerts. For SRD status and payment dates, they should use the official online portal, not social media claims.
Sassa’s toll-free customer care line is 0800 60 10 11. Beneficiaries can also email [email protected] or visit www.sassa.gov.za for help.
Source: this article is based on reporting by The Citizen. Image: The Witness. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice News desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Kgomotso Maake covers news and politics for Tzaneen Voice. Kgomotso reports on government, Parliament, municipalities, courts, crime and service delivery across South Africa, with a close eye on how national decisions reach towns like Tzaneen and the wider Limpopo province. Stories are written in plain English and focus on the facts: who made the decision, what it means, and what happens next.