SASSA pays December grants from 2 December. Your date and amount
SASSA pays December 2026 grants on 2 December (older persons), 3 December (disability) and 4 December (children's grants). Amounts are unchanged, and the next payment only comes on 5 January 2027.
SASSA starts paying December 2026 grants on Wednesday, 2 December, with older persons first. Disability grants follow on Thursday, 3 December and children's grants on Friday, 4 December (DSD).
December is back on the normal schedule after November's once-off election dates. SASSA said on 28 October that payment dates from December 2026 to March 2027 stay as first announced (SASSA on X).
When is my December 2026 grant paid?
| Grant | Payment date |
|---|---|
| Older Persons Grant and War Veterans Grant | Wednesday, 2 December 2026 |
| Disability Grant | Thursday, 3 December 2026 |
| Children's grants (Child Support, Foster Child, Care Dependency) | Friday, 4 December 2026 |
Dates from SASSA's 2026/27 schedule, approved by National Treasury on 20 March 2026 (DSD, Cape Town Etc). Grant-in-Aid is paid with the grant it is linked to (Cape Town Etc).
How much will I get in December?
There is no festive bonus. December pays the same amounts that started in April 2026 after the Budget Speech (DSD, IOL).
| Grant | Monthly amount |
|---|---|
| Older Persons Grant | R2 400 |
| Disability Grant | R2 400 |
| Care Dependency Grant | R2 400 |
| War Veterans Grant | R2 420 |
| Foster Child Grant | R1 290 |
| Child Support Grant | R580 |
| Grant-in-Aid | R580 |
Amounts from the Department of Social Development (DSD).
When is the January 2027 payment?
This is the date to budget around. After December's early payment, the next grants only arrive in the first week of January, about five weeks later.
| Grant | January 2027 date |
|---|---|
| Older Persons and War Veterans grants | Tuesday, 5 January 2027 |
| Disability Grant | Wednesday, 6 January 2027 |
| Children's grants | Thursday, 7 January 2027 |
Dates from SASSA's approved schedule (DSD).
How do I check my SASSA grant status?
Use only SASSA's own channels. SASSA says you shouldn't wait for an SMS before checking (Cape Town Etc, SASSA on X).
| Method | How | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Send "Hi" to 082 601 0111 | Checking if your grant is under review, eLife certification (Cape Town Etc) | |
| SASSA Services portal | Log in at services.sassa.gov.za to see your applications and their status (SASSA Services FAQ) | Grant applications made online |
| SRD status page | Enter your ID number and the cellphone number you applied with at srd.sassa.gov.za (SASSA) | The COVID-19 SRD grant |
| Call centre | Call 0800 60 10 11 toll-free (SASSA) | Any grant, if you can't get online |
| [email protected] (SASSA) | Following up on an application |
SASSA will never ask for your PIN, and won't ask for your ID number or banking details on social media or unofficial websites (SASSA).
What if my grant is under review?
Respond to the notice. SASSA says beneficiaries who don't provide the information and documents asked for in time risk having their grant suspended (Cape Town Etc). The WhatsApp line above tells you whether your grant is under review.
Should I change my bank account before December?
Think twice. SASSA spokesperson Lungelo Mkamba said a new account has to be verified before money is paid into it, and a change made close to payday can push your grant into a later cycle (Ridge Times/The Citizen).
What if my grant doesn't arrive?
SASSA asks beneficiaries who don't receive their money on the scheduled date, or have trouble getting it, to go to their nearest SASSA local office (DSD, IOL).
FAQ
When is the SASSA older persons grant paid in December 2026?
On Wednesday, 2 December 2026. The War Veterans Grant is paid on the same day.
When is the SASSA disability grant paid in December 2026?
On Thursday, 3 December 2026.
When are SASSA children's grants paid in December 2026?
On Friday, 4 December 2026. This covers the Child Support, Foster Child and Care Dependency grants.
Is there a SASSA Christmas bonus in December 2026?
No. December pays the normal amounts in place since April 2026, such as R2 400 for the Older Persons Grant and R580 for the Child Support Grant.
When is the next SASSA payment after December 2026?
Older persons are paid on Tuesday, 5 January 2027, disability grants on 6 January and children's grants on 7 January.
Sources
- Department of Social Development: SASSA confirms 2026/2027 social grant payment schedule and increases
- SASSA on X: Payment dates from December 2026 to March 2027 unchanged (28 October 2026)
- IOL: SASSA grant payment dates for December 2026
- Cape Town Etc: SASSA confirms December grant dates and review warning
- Ridge Times/The Citizen: SASSA warns beneficiaries against frequent bank account changes
- SASSA: You and Your Grant booklet 2026
- SASSA Services portal: Help and FAQs
- SASSA: SRD status check