How much you get
| Age band | Monthly amount |
|---|---|
| 60 – 74 years | R2 315 |
| 75 years and older | R2 335 |
Amounts reflect the most recent annual adjustment. SASSA reviews grant values every April and October.
Who qualifies
- South African citizen, permanent resident or recognised refugee.
- Aged 60 years or older.
- Not being cared for in a state institution.
- Not receiving any other social grant on your own ID.
- Passes the means test (see below).
Means test 2026
| Applicant status | Income limit / year | Asset limit |
|---|---|---|
| Single | R96 840 | R1 372 800 |
| Married (combined) | R193 680 | R2 745 600 |
If your income or assets exceed these limits you may receive a reduced amount, on a sliding scale.
Documents you need
- Green bar-coded ID, smart ID card or a temporary ID (with a certified photograph).
- Proof of residential address (utility bill, letter from ward councillor).
- Proof of marital status.
- Proof of income and dividends — bank statements for the last 3 months, pension slips, UIF card.
- Proof of your assets, including municipal valuation of your home.
- If retrenched — the UI19 form from your last employer.
How to apply
- Visit your nearest SASSA regional or district office. Applications for older persons cannot be lodged online — an officer must interview you.
- Complete the application form with a SASSA officer.
- Submit your documents. You will receive a receipt.
- Wait up to 30 days for the outcome. If approved, payments are backdated to the day you applied.
Payments and channels
You may choose to have the grant paid into a personal bank account, to a Postbank / SASSA card, or collect it in cash at a paypoint. Cash-collection sites still operate in rural areas but their footprint is shrinking — a bank deposit is safer and faster.
Life-certificate check: pensioners who use certain payment channels must verify they are still alive once a year, either at a paypoint or through a biometric check at a SASSA office. If you skip it, payments are paused until you visit.
When does the grant stop?
The older persons grant lapses if you: pass away; are admitted to a state-funded institution for more than three months; leave South Africa permanently; or fail to claim for three consecutive months.