The South African Government has officially confirmed increases to social grant amounts for beneficiaries in the 2026/2027 financial year. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced these changes during the Budget Speech in Parliament which provides financial relief to millions of South Africans who depend on grants for their daily expenses.
National Treasury has allocated R292.8 billion towards social grants in the upcoming financial year — one of the largest components of social spending which aims to reduce poverty while supporting vulnerable households.
Key Grant Increases Taking Effect
The following grant increases will begin on April 1 2026:
- Old Age Grant — Increased by R80 to a new monthly rate of R2400.
- Disability Grant — Also increased by R80 which brings it to R2400.
- Care Dependency Grant — Up **R80 to R2 400.
- War Veterans Grant — Increased by R80 to R2 420.
- Foster Care Grant — A R40 increase to R1 290 in April, with a further R10 rise to R1 300 in October 2026.
- Child Support and Grant-in-Aid Grants — Increased by R20 which brings the total to R580 per beneficiary.
These increases reflect an effort by the government to maintain grant values throughout the rising costs of living and inflation.
SRD Grant Remains Unchanged
The Social Relief of Distress (SRD/R370 grant) will continue to pay R370 monthly to each beneficiary throughout the 2026/27 period despite all other social grants receiving increases. The government has allocated additional funds to extend SRD payments until 31 March 2027 but did not adjust the grant amount itself. Advocacy groups and labour organisations have called for an increase to the SRD grant because of rising living costs while Treasury maintained the current grant rate for the upcoming year.
The 2026 Budget shows that Treasury needs better verification systems to stop grant abuse.
SASSA has upgraded its biometric and income verification systems, which successfully identified and ended thousands of fraudulent grants. The measures work to guarantee that grants will reach eligible recipients while the government will protect its financial resources.
Also Read: SASSA Child Support Grant March 2026: Full Payment Schedule And Updates