While many South African social grant recipients still head into 2026 with hope of an increase in their pension from SASSA this year, it is what the backbone of millions of the aged and other vulnerable social segments have to live off each month. And any adjustments made to their grants have considerable repercussions on the household economy.
Some Grant Increases in 2025/26
The South African government had also presented adjustments in social grants for the year under review during its budget speech. Before the end of the fiscal, minor technical amendments thus started to unfold in practical terms. Funding for the SASSA grants was enhanced in the 2025/26 cycle when the Old Age Grant was increased by a trivial R10 with effect against the retirement funds after October 2025. The increments, as always, came into the Old Age Grant, Disability Grant, Care Dependency Grant and War Veterans Grant, which were lifted slightly higher to the stress of living costs.
These figures generally reflect an increase for older pensioners in the amount they receive monthly. For instance, R2,310 would become R2,320 monthly for any pensioner over the age of a cougars, while for those in their late 70s and further, those numbers would rise further.
Even though these current increases were confirmed in the 2025/26 budget, there is no word from the official channels announcing the possibility of allowing a massive hike in the pension for 2026 beyond what is already provided for in the budget for the same year. SASSA and/or the National Treasury usually bring in full grant adjustments into being as a part of the budget process at the beginning of every year, and only after such events under discussion have occurred can we be all too sure that even larger raises-be-yond-tiny, decent annual adjustments could likely be confirmed once the budget of 2026/27 is tabled.
What Pensioners Should Look Out for in the Year 2026
Many concern beneficiaries and rights groups have been calling on Parliament to adhere to larger increases so as to align with the increasing cost of living, especially the true reality of impoverishment on the elderly who depend on the Old Age Grant. Some of the biggest pension groups have gone to court with demands of R5,000 or more per month claiming very old and heartbreaking tales of ridiculous price hikes on basic necessities.
SASSA and National Treasury were scheduled to decide on any further social grant adjusting as part of the timing of an annual budget during early 2026. Pensioners and relatives of minors should monitor official announcements and be sure of such updates from government gazettes, SASSA channels, or the South African Treasury websites.
Checking Your Grant Amount
The current amounts of grants can be checked from the official SASSA website or local SASSA offices. Prospective beneficiaries sought answers to what each of them may get in monthly installments while keeping their fingers crossed for any increase in 2026. This would be reflected in payment notifications as and when it comes up.