SASSA Payment Dates for October 2026: Full Schedule
Last checked: 16 September 2026
SASSA has confirmed the October 2026 social grant payment dates: Older Persons Grant on Friday, 2 October, Disability Grant on Monday, 5 October, and Children’s Grants on Tuesday, 6 October. A fourth payment day, Wednesday, 7 October, applies to beneficiaries flagged for review. The SRD R370 grant for October is expected to be paid between 25 and 30 October. These dates come from the Department of Social Development’s 2026/27 payment schedule, approved by National Treasury, and are confirmed directly against SASSA’s own published notices.
October 2026 Payment Dates at a Glance
| Grant Type | October 2026 Date |
|---|---|
| Older Person’s Grant | Friday, 2 October 2026 |
| Disability Grant | Monday, 5 October 2026 |
| Children’s Grants | Tuesday, 6 October 2026 |
| Exception Payments | Wednesday, 7 October 2026 |
| SRD R370 | Expected 25–30 October 2026 |
There’s a natural weekend gap between the first two payments this month — Older Persons Grant lands on Friday, then Disability Grant follows on the Monday after. That’s a normal three-business-day stagger, not a delay, so there’s no need to worry if your payment doesn’t land the very next day.
Active Right Now: SASSA’s Large-Scale Verification Drive
SASSA is currently running one of its largest grant verification drives in years, planning to review more than 350,000 grants this financial year. The agency checks for changes in a beneficiary’s income, financial position, marital status, medical condition, or other circumstances that could affect eligibility.
If your grant is selected for this review, you’ll be paid on the fourth payment day (7 October) rather than the standard schedule, and SASSA will notify you directly by bulk SMS beforehand. Given the scale of this drive, more beneficiaries than usual may see their October payment land on this exception date rather than the standard 2nd/5th/6th.
How SASSA Payment Dates Are Determined
SASSA follows a consistent set of rules when setting payment dates each month:
- Early in the month — grants are paid as early as possible, typically across a three-day window.
- Staggered by grant type — in most months, Older Persons Grants go out on the 2nd, Disability Grants on the 3rd, and Children’s Grants on the 4th.
- Avoiding the first-of-month and days after public holidays — payments are scheduled around these where possible, easing pressure on the National Payment System. Exact weekdays can still shift month to month based on the standard staggered pattern — October’s Disability Grant, for example, falls on a Monday.
- A separate exception day — a fourth payment day is set aside each month for beneficiaries whose grants are under review or who experienced a late payment.
Full 2026/2027 SASSA Payment Schedule
Older Persons Grant
| Month | Date |
|---|---|
| April 2026 | 2 April |
| May 2026 | 5 May |
| June 2026 | 2 June |
| July 2026 | 2 July |
| August 2026 | 4 August |
| September 2026 | 2 September |
| October 2026 | 2 October |
| November 2026 | 3 November |
| December 2026 | 2 December |
| January 2027 | 5 January |
| February 2027 | 2 February |
| March 2027 | 2 March |
Disability Grant
| Month | Date |
|---|---|
| April 2026 | 7 April |
| May 2026 | 6 May |
| June 2026 | 3 June |
| July 2026 | 3 July |
| August 2026 | 5 August |
| September 2026 | 3 September |
| October 2026 | 5 October |
| November 2026 | 4 November |
| December 2026 | 3 December |
| January 2027 | 6 January |
| February 2027 | 3 February |
| March 2027 | 3 March |
Children’s Grants (Child Support, Care Dependency & Foster Care)
| Month | Date |
|---|---|
| April 2026 | 8 April |
| May 2026 | 7 May |
| June 2026 | 4 June |
| July 2026 | 6 July |
| August 2026 | 6 August |
| September 2026 | 4 September |
| October 2026 | 6 October |
| November 2026 | 5 November |
| December 2026 | 4 December |
| January 2027 | 7 January |
| February 2027 | 4 February |
| March 2027 | 4 March |
What About the SRD R370 Grant?
The SRD R370 grant doesn’t follow the same three-day schedule as the permanent grants above. For October 2026, it’s expected to be paid between 25 and 30 October, and has been confirmed extended through 31 March 2027 at its current value. Because SRD payment timing is individualised, check your own status directly rather than assuming a fixed date — see our full SASSA SRD status check guide for exactly how to do that.
2026/2027 Grant Increases
Social grants increased from April 2026:
| Grant Type | New Monthly Amount |
|---|---|
| Older Persons, Disability & Care Dependency | R2,400 (+R80) |
| War Veterans | R2,420 (+R80) |
| Foster Child | R1,290 (+R40) |
| Child Support & Grant-in-Aid | R580 (+R20) |
Don’t Rush — Your Money Stays Available
Your funds remain in your account until you withdraw them — there’s no need to rush to a pay point on the very first available day. To avoid queues, you can draw funds from an ATM, your own bank account, or at retail stores including Shoprite, Checkers, Pick n Pay, Boxer, and Usave, often with no additional fee.
Contact SASSA
- Toll-Free: 0800 60 10 11
- Phone: 012 400 2322
- Email: GrantsEnquiries@sassa.gov.za
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the SASSA payment dates for October 2026? Older Persons Grant on 2 October, Disability Grant on 5 October, Children’s Grants on 6 October, and exception payments on 7 October.
When is the SASSA SRD R370 grant paid in October 2026? Expected between 25 and 30 October — check your individual status rather than assuming a fixed date.
Why is there a fourth payment day in October? It’s reserved for beneficiaries flagged for review or eLife Certification. SASSA is currently reviewing over 350,000 grants nationally, so more beneficiaries than usual may fall into this category this cycle.
Why is the Disability Grant paid on a Monday in October? SASSA’s staggered schedule can occasionally land on a Monday depending on the month — always check the specific schedule rather than assuming a fixed weekday pattern.
What happens if a payment date falls on a weekend or holiday? SASSA moves the payment to the nearest working day. This month, there’s a natural weekend gap between the Friday Older Persons Grant payment and the following Monday’s Disability Grant.
This page is checked monthly against SASSA and Department of Social Development notices. If you’re experiencing mental health or financial hardship difficulties related to delayed payments, SASSA’s toll-free line (0800 60 10 11) can help directly with your case.‘re experiencing mental health or financial hardship difficulties related to delayed payments, SASSA’s toll-free line (0800 60 10 11) can help directly with your case.
