SASSA old-age grant increase: R3 000 proposal reaches Parliament

A proposed SASSA old-age grant increase to R3 000 a month has been put before Parliament, as campaigners question whether the current payment can cover older South Africans’ basic needs, Joburg Etc reports.

The call was made by the independent public-interest initiative Math is not Mathing during public hearings on the 2026 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) on Wednesday, 28 October. Parliament’s finance committees held the hearings to consider the revised fiscal framework and government revenue proposals.

Representing the campaign, Geraldine Prinsloo argued that the monthly grant should rise from R2 400 to R3 000, an additional R600. She questioned how pensioners were expected to manage food, electricity, accommodation, transport and medication on the existing amount.

Prinsloo also challenged government to explain how savings identified across departments would be used, telling Parliament to ‘show us where those unidentified savings are going’, according to EWN.

What pensioners currently receive

The proposal is not an approved increase. The government currently lists the older person’s grant at R2 400 a month, while beneficiaries older than 75 receive R2 420. The current rates followed the R80 grant adjustment introduced in April 2026, according to the Department of Social Development.

For households relying on the grant, the debate goes beyond a headline figure. It centres on how much room remains for food, healthcare and other essentials after monthly bills are paid.