(last updated: 21 May 2026).

WHO QUALIFIES FOR THE SASSA OLDER PERSONS GRANT?

In order to apply for the SASSA Older Persons Grant, you must meet all of these criteria:

• You must be over 60 years old
• You must be a South African Citizen, a Permanent Resident or a Refugee
• You must reside within South Africa
• You must meet the means test as stated below (for income and assets)
• You must NOT be receiving care in a state institution (this includes state old age homes, rehabilitation centres or prisons)
• You must NOT be receiving any other social grant for yourself

READ ABOUT: Other types of grants
SRD R370 Grant Care Dependency Grant Child Support Grant Foster Child Grant
Disability Grant Older Persons Grant Grant-In-Aid War Veterans Grant

WHAT IS THE MEANS TEST FOR THE OLDER PERSONS GRANT?

SASSA awards social grants based on a means test. A means test is a method of evaluating an applicants income and assets, to determine whether they qualify for a grant.

These are the thresholds as of 1 April 2026. Applicants who are married will have half of the annual joint and assets income taken into consideration.

• Income threshold:
  • Single applicants must not earn more than R112 200 per year / R9 350 per month.
  • Married applicants must not earn more than a combined income of R224 400 a year / R18 700 per month.
• Asset threshold:
  • Single applicants must not have assets valued at more than R1 584 000.
  • Married applicants must not have assets valued at more than R3 168 000.

HOW CAN I APPLY FOR THE SASSA OLDER PERSONS GRANT?

To apply for the Old Age Grant, you should visit a SASSA office close to you or you may apply online (read instructions on how to apply online via the SASSA services website here).

If you are unable to visit the SASSA office yourself, due to being too sick, old or disabled, you may have a family member or friend apply for you, by way of a power of attorney. This person is your procurator and they will be able to legally apply or receive your social grant on your behalf.

The application form is available at the SASSA office and must be completed in the presence of a SASSA officer. A SASSA officer will be able to assist you or your appointed person, to complete the application form if you or they are unable to do so.

You will receive a dated stamped receipt, with the name of the SASSA official who assisted in the application. You will need to keep your receipt as proof of application.

The application process is completely FREE. 

WHICH DOCUMENTS MUST BE SUBMITTED WHEN APPLYING FOR AN OLDER PERSONS GRANT?

Applicants must take along the following documents when applying for the old persons grant through SASSA (these must be original documents or certified copies):

• ID Document (if this is not available, you may submit an affidavit to confirm personal information) (download the SASSA affidavit here – this must be completed in the presence of a Commissioner of Oaths who is not a SASSA official)
• Refugee status permit and 13-digit refugee ID: if applicable
• Proof of marital status:
  • Marriage certificate: if you are married
  • Divorce order: if divorced
  • Copy of spouse’s death certificate, their will, and the first and final liquidation and distribution accounts where applicable: if your spouse died within the last 5 years
• Proof of residence
• Proof of income or dividends (your own and your spouses): if applicable
• Proof of assets, including the municipal value of your property: if applicable
• Proof of private pension: if applicable
• 3 months bank statements
• Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) (‘blue book’) or discharge certificate from your previous employer, if you were employed

WHEN WILL I KNOW THE OUTCOME OF MY OLDER PERSONS GRANT APPLICATION?

Applications are assessed within 3 months, after which time you will be informed in writing, whether your application was approved or rejected. If you were rejected, SASSA will provide a reason for your rejection.

You will be able to request SASSA to reassess your application if it was rejected. If after reconsidering, your application is still rejected, you may appeal to the Minister of Social Development.

Approved applicants will start receiving payments within 3 months of applying. Payments will be backdated to when you applied. 

HOW IS THE OLDER PERSONS GRANT PAID?

After your grant is approved, you will be paid on the date on which you applied. You can find the SASSA payment date here (it is usually within the first few days of each month, and is always the first grant payment of the month).

Your Old Age Pension Grant will be paid in any of these 3 ways (depending on your preference):

• Directly into your bank account (this must be a bank account in your name)
• Collected in cash from approved pay points (using your SASSA gold card)
• From specific institutions

HOW CAN I CHANGE MY GRANT PAYMENT METHOD?

Recently, a Postbank payment glitch left many grant recipients stranded and unable to access their grants. For this reason (or perhaps another reason), you may wish to change your grant payment method from the SASSA Gold Card into your own personal bank account.

If you would like your grant to be paid into your bank account, you will need to complete the Consent Form for Bank Payment of SASSA Grant, as well as provide the following documents: proof of identity (ID document/ birth certificate/ drivers license) and proof of bank account in your name (received from the bank) or 3 months bank statement showing your personal details (name and bank account number).

All of these documents must be submitted to a SASSA office near you. Alternatively, you may visit your nearest SASSA branch and they will assist you in how to change your payment method. Note that the new payment method will come into effect the following month.

If you are unable to collect your grant yourself, you may nominate someone to collect it for you. 

WHAT IS A GRANT REVIEW?

You must provide proof of all incomes you receive in your application.

Applications are reviewed to verify that grant-holders still meet the criteria of the grant, to continue receiving the grant. Applications are reviewed to assess whether your circumstances have changed.

Applicants will receive a notification in writing from SASSA, 3 months before applications are to be reviewed. The notification will inform you when and where the review will be conducted and what will happen after the review. Applicants who are bed-ridden will receive a home visit. After the review has been completed, you will receive a receipt of compliance.

Applicants who are refugees will have their application reviewed when their refugee status expires. 

WHY WAS MY GRANT SUSPENDED?

Your grant may be suspended due to the following reasons:

• Your circumstances change
• You provided false or incorrect information in your application
• You failed to co-operate when the grant is reviewed
• Outcome of a review
• The grant was approved when it should not have been

HOW CAN I GET MY GRANT RESTORED?

If your grant was suspended due to any of the reasons above, you may apply to have the grant restored within 90 days of receiving the suspension. 

WHY DID MY OLDER PERSONS GRANT LAPSE?

Your grant may lapse due to the following reasons:

• The grant holder has died
• The grant holder was admitted into a state-funded institution
• The grant has not been claimed for 3 consecutive months
• The grant holder is no longer living in South Africa
• The grant holder no longer meets the means test – their assets or income has improved so they no longer meet the means test

SOME GRANT NOTES

As a grant holder, it is your responsibility to:

• keep SASSA updated with regards to changes to your personal and financial circumstances
• keep SASSA updated with regards to changes to your physical address or contact details

Applicants must inform SASSA immediately of any changes to the above, as official notices are sent to your most recent address by registered mail. If you do not receive or act upon the notices, your grant may be suspended.

SASSA will not tolerate any fraudulent activities.

HOW CAN I CONTACT SASSA?

For any further queries, please contact SASSA directly:
Contact the SASSA Toll Free Call centre on: 0800 60 10 11
Contact the SASSA Head Office on: 012 400 2322
Email SASSA Head Office at: Grantsenquiries@sassa.gov.za
Contact details of SASSA offices across the country: SASSA offices

article source: SASSA official website and SASSA official Facebook page

written by: Thabo Maseko