R3 000 old-age grant? Treasury says it would cost R30.2 billion a year

The old-age grant is not going up to R3 000, at least not yet. Pensioners will keep getting R2 400 a month, or R2 420 if they're 75 or older (notice R.7287). National Treasury said on Friday that raising the grant to R3 000 would cost the state about R30.2 billion a year and that the proposed increases are "very hard to accommodate" (EWN).

Who asked for a R3 000 old-age grant?

The call came from Math is Not Mathing, an independent public interest initiative, during Parliament's public hearings on the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement. The hearings were run by the Standing and Select Committees on Finance (SABC News).

Presenting for the group, Geraldine Prinsloo asked how older people are expected to cover food, electricity, accommodation, transport and medication on R2 400 a month. She asked Parliament to raise the grant "to a mere R3 000 per month" (SABC News). That is an increase of R600, or 25%.

What did Treasury say?

Treasury replied to public comments on the budget statement on Friday, 30 October. Busi Mothlabedi, a deputy director in the Budget Office, said Treasury has to weigh inflation, poverty and how far grants stretch against what the state can afford (EWN).

Source: EWN.

Treasury also rejected claims from civil society groups that it is cutting the number of grant beneficiaries to save money. It said R13 billion in savings comes from a gradual drop in beneficiaries as fraud is rooted out, and that people who qualify under the law are not being excluded (EWN). Changes to the R370 SRD grant are still being worked on with stakeholders (EWN).

When could the grant actually go up?

Grant increases are announced in the national Budget in February and take effect in April. This year's Budget added R80 to the older persons grant from April 2026, taking it from R2 320 to R2 400 (Parliament). The next chance for an increase is the February 2027 Budget. Until the Minister of Finance announces one and it is gazetted, the amount stays the same.

How much do pensioners get right now?

Source: Department of Social Development notice R.7287.

November's older persons grant was paid early, on Friday 30 October, because of the 4 November local elections (SASSA). SASSA says this is a once-off change and December payments go back to the usual schedule (SASSA on X).

Who qualifies for the old-age grant?

You must be 60 or older and pass SASSA's means test. These are the limits from 1 April 2026:

Source: SASSA means test leaflet.

The R2 400 is the maximum. If you have other income or assets, SASSA may pay you less (SASSA).

SASSA is also running more grant reviews and life certification checks. It says these confirm that beneficiaries still qualify and are alive, and are not meant to cut grants arbitrarily (SASSA). You must tell SASSA if your income, marital status, banking details or address change (SASSA).

How do I check my SASSA grant status?

Use only SASSA's official channels. Don't give your ID number, PIN or card details to anyone who calls or messages you claiming to be from SASSA, and ignore posts promising that the R3 000 is already being paid.

If your money hasn't arrived on your payment date, SASSA asks beneficiaries to go to their nearest SASSA local office (SAnews).