Disappointment as 2026 SASSA Old-Age Grant increases fall short

The long-awaited 2026 SASSA Old-Age Grant increases have left beneficiaries disillusioned.

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Announced at yesterday’s Budget Speech, South Africa’s more than four-million pensioners will receive just R80 extra per month from April onwards.

There is no confirmation as yet by how much it may increase again in October 2026. But historically this has only been by R10 extra …

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2026 SASSA OLD-AGE GRANT INCREASES

The lower-than-expected 2026 SASSA Old-Age Grant increases were predicted by The South African earlier this month, looking at average inflation in 2025. As such, the National Treasury instructed the South African Social Security Agency to increase grants by just 3.4%.

However, civil society group and beneficiaries alike are up in arms over the miserly 2026 social welfare increases. As one irate commenter wrote to The South African:

“The Finance Minister Godongwana must be ashamed of the SASSA Old-Age Pension increase. Not only him, but the entire cabinet must hang their heads in shame for treating pensioners like dirt. They take big pay increases, wear expensive clothes and shoes, they forget who voted for them.”

GRANT INCREASES IN LINE WITH INFLATION

The country’s more than four-million old-age pensioners were hoping for a lot more than an R80 increase from the Finance Minister. Image: File

Nevertheless, the 2026 SASSA Old-Age Grant increases are official and they will go ahead in April 2026:

• SASSA Old-Age Grant (60 years old) – R2 320 increases by R80 to R2 400.
• SASSA Old-Age Grant (75 years old) – R2 340 increases by R80 to R2 420.

As mentioned, payment dates for April 2026 disbursements are yet to be confirmed by the agency. And the old pre-increase amounts will still be paid next week, Tuesday 3 March 2026.

2026 SASSA OLD-AGE GRANT INCREASES

However, the disappointment over 2026 SASSA Old-Age Grant increases is palpable from pensioners. Back in 2023, for example, the SASSA grant increases for the year amounted to R100 (4.8%). Then we have the increases in 2025, which were something of an anomaly that many perhaps choose to ignore.

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana needed three bites at the budget cherry before it was approved by the Government of National Unity (GNU). In his first one he delivered above-inflation increases to SASSA Old-Age Grants, R110 (5.8%). However, this was contingent on the National Treasury implementing two value-added tax (VAT) increases over two years.

SEVERE REALIGNMENT FROM 2025 INCREASES

There was also precious little clarity given on President Ramaphosa’s proposed SASSA Income Support Grant. Image: File

Therefore, the 3.4% increase in 2026 seems extremely miserly compared to last year’s 5.8%. However, in an unprecedented turn of events, between the minister’s budget re-tabling from February to May, 2025 increases had already gone ahead (in April). And it’s not like the agency and Treasury could recall monies that had already been dispensed.

Therefore, lower-than-expected 2026 SASSA Old-Age Grant increases mark a realignment for last year’s increase. Not that this news will be any consolation to the more than four-million old-age pensioners who rely on this money as their only source of income.

But what do you think? Is it fair that SASSA grant increases are lower this year to account for last year’s re-tabled budget? Or should government be doing more to look after its elderly? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below …

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