4 in 10 South Africans get a grant. Where SASSA's R290bn goes
Government will spend just under R290 billion on social grants in 2026/27, paying 26.2 million people. Here's how it splits by grant, what each pays and why Treasury expects fewer recipients by 2030.
Government will spend just under R290 billion on social grants in 2026/27, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said in Wednesday's medium-term budget policy statement, according to GroundUp. About 26.2 million people now receive a grant, roughly 40% of South Africans.
That is about R3 billion less than budgeted in February, because fewer people signed up than Treasury expected (GroundUp).
Where does the money go?
The February budget set aside R292.8 billion for grants this year. The biggest slices, per Treasury's Budget Review:
- Old age grant: R121.8 billion
- Child support grant: R89 billion
- SRD (R370) grant: R36.9 billion
- Disability grant: R31.9 billion
- Care dependency grant: R5.3 billion
- Grant-in-aid: R4.7 billion
- Foster care grant: R3.2 billion
The old age and child support grants together make up 78% of the Department of Social Development's spending, Treasury says.
How much is each grant worth now?
Amounts after the April 2026 increases, as announced in the budget:
- Old age, disability and care dependency grants: R2,400 a month
- War veterans grant: R2,420
- Foster care grant: R1,300 (from October)
- Child support grant and grant-in-aid: R580
- SRD grant: R370
Why is Treasury spending less than planned?
Between April and September, about 300,000 fewer children were getting the child support grant than Treasury projected. SRD numbers also came in about 300,000 below forecast (GroundUp).
Treasury expects the number of grant recipients, excluding SRD, to drop from about 18 million now to 17.1 million by 2029/30 as verification gets stricter. It puts the saving at R6.2 billion (GroundUp).
SASSA already runs bank account and credit bureau checks on clients. By December 2025, those checks had flagged 291,581 beneficiaries for review, and 34,661 grants were cancelled, Treasury reported. All new applicants now go through biometric verification.
What happens to the SRD grant?
The R370 SRD grant, started during Covid, has been extended again, this time until March 2028, and is likely to be replaced by a grant linked to job opportunities (GroundUp). It adds about 8.2 million people to the grant system.
How has this changed in 20 years?
When SASSA started in 2006/07, it paid R57 billion in grants to 12 million people, about a quarter of the population. Adjusted for inflation, spending has grown about 86% since then, but grants still take the same 11.2% share of total government spending (GroundUp).
What should beneficiaries do?
Keep your details up to date with SASSA, respond to any review letter, and check your status only through official channels: the SASSA website or the toll-free line 0800 60 10 11. SASSA says it is targeting fraud while protecting legitimate beneficiaries (Treasury).
FAQ
How much will SASSA spend on social grants in 2026/27?
Just under R290 billion, according to the October 2026 medium-term budget policy statement. That is about R3 billion less than the R292.8 billion budgeted in February.
How many South Africans receive a social grant?
About 26.2 million people, roughly 40% of the population. That includes about 8.2 million SRD grant recipients.
How much is the old age grant in 2026?
R2,400 a month after the April 2026 increase. The disability and care dependency grants are also R2,400, and the child support grant is R580.
Why will fewer people get grants in future?
Treasury expects stricter verification, including bank, credit bureau and biometric checks, to cut recipients (excluding SRD) to 17.1 million by 2029/30.
Is the SRD grant still being paid?
Yes. The R370 SRD grant has been extended until March 2028 and is likely to be replaced by a grant linked to job opportunities.