The biggest SASSA news this week: November 2026 grant payments were moved earlier because of the 4 November local government elections. Older persons are paid on Friday, 30 October, disability grants on Monday, 2 November and children’s grants on Tuesday, 3 November. In the 21 October mini-budget, the SRD grant was extended for another year, still at R370 a month. SASSA has also dismissed 65 officials for misconduct since April 2025, and the court case over who qualifies for the SRD grant is still waiting for a judgment.
| Date | Headline | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| 26 Oct 2026 | SASSA has dismissed 65 officials for misconduct | Report anyone who asks for money to “fix” your grant |
| 21 Oct 2026 | SRD grant extended for another year | No new application needed. Still R370 |
| 15 Oct 2026 | November pay dates moved for the elections | Older persons paid on 30 October |
| Oct 2026 | Foster child grant goes up to R1,300 | Paid automatically, no need to apply |
| 31 Aug 2026 | Deadline to swap the gold card for the black card | Old gold cards no longer work |
| Aug 2026 | Government appeals the SRD court ruling | Rules stay the same until judgment |
On this page: Latest news · 2026 timeline · Fake news to ignore · Official sources · Coming up · FAQ
Latest SASSA news: October 2026
November grant payments moved earlier for the elections
South Africans vote in the local government elections on 4 November 2026. To keep grant payments away from election day, SASSA moved November’s payment dates forward, with approval from National Treasury (SAnews, 15 October 2026).
| Grant | November 2026 payment date |
|---|---|
| Older persons grant | Friday, 30 October |
| Disability grant | Monday, 2 November |
| Children’s grants (child support, foster child, care dependency) | Tuesday, 3 November |
| Grants under review (fourth payment day) | Thursday, 5 November |
This means pensioners get their November money in October. It isn’t an extra payment, so plan for a longer gap before the December payment on 2 December. SASSA also asked people not to visit offices unless they need to. See every date on our SASSA payment dates page. Our explainer covers why the November dates moved and what pensioners should plan for.
SRD grant extended for another year in the mini-budget
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement on 21 October extended the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant for another year beyond March 2027 (Bizcommunity, 22 October 2026). What the mini-budget did and didn’t change:
- The amount stays R370. No increase was announced.
- You don’t need to reapply. Your existing application keeps being checked every month. Our SRD reapplication guide explains when a new application is needed.
- Less money was set aside. The SRD budget for 2026/27 dropped from R36.9 billion to R35.6 billion because fewer people are being paid than expected.
- More checks are coming. A government data platform called MzansiXchange will compare recipients with other records to find duplicate and fraudulent claims, and link people to jobs and training.
Read our full explainer: SRD grant extended for another year: what the mini-budget means.
SASSA dismisses 65 officials for misconduct
SASSA CEO Themba Matlou said the agency has dismissed 65 officials found guilty of misconduct since April 2025. Out of 134 cases of alleged misconduct and fraud, 106 have been finalised and 28 are still open. The Eastern Cape had the most dismissals (19), followed by Mpumalanga and Gauteng (13 each) and KwaZulu-Natal (11) (TimesLIVE, 26 October 2026).
For you, the lesson is simple: SASSA services are free. If anyone, including someone who says they work for SASSA, asks for money to approve, speed up or “unblock” your grant, report it on 0800 60 10 11.
SRD court case: judgment still pending
In January 2025 the High Court in Pretoria found parts of the SRD system unlawful, including online-only applications and some bank and database checks, and ordered government to plan increases to the grant and its income limit. Government appealed, and the Supreme Court of Appeal heard the case in August 2026 (Sowetan, August 2026).
Until the judgment comes out, nothing changes. The income limit is still R624 a month and the grant is R370. Treasury’s mini-budget says that if the ruling is upheld, between 3 and 13 million more people could qualify. Read our full SRD court case explainer. Our SRD status meanings guide explains the current checks behind a decline.
Gold card replaced by the Postbank black card
Postbank’s deadline to swap the old SASSA gold card for a black card was 31 August 2026, and gold cards stopped working after that (SAnews, August 2026). If you still have a gold card, call Postbank on 0800 53 54 55. To check what’s on the new card, see how to check your SASSA card balance.
Foster child grant goes up in October
Most grants went up on 1 April 2026, but the foster child grant had a second step in October 2026, to R1,300 a month. It’s paid automatically. All current figures are on our SASSA grant amounts page and the foster child grant guide.
Timeline: SASSA updates in 2026 so far
| When | What happened | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Feb 2026 | SASSA tells Parliament about 70,000 grants were suspended after reviews, out of about 240,000 reviewed | AllAfrica / GroundUp |
| Feb 2026 | Budget sets grant increases from April and extends the SRD grant to March 2027 | National Budget |
| 1 Apr 2026 | New grant amounts start, such as R2,400 for older persons and R580 for child support | SASSA |
| 29 Apr 2026 | Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe says work is under way to turn the SRD into a permanent “livelihoods” grant | EWN |
| 1 May 2026 | Post Office counters stop paying grants; use ATMs and shops | Sowetan |
| 31 Aug 2026 | Deadline to swap the gold card for a Postbank black card | SAnews |
| Aug 2026 | Supreme Court of Appeal hears government’s appeal in the SRD case | Sowetan |
| Oct 2026 | Foster child grant goes up to R1,300 | SASSA |
| 15 Oct 2026 | November payment dates moved for the elections | SAnews |
| 21 Oct 2026 | Mini-budget extends the SRD grant for another year | Bizcommunity |
| 26 Oct 2026 | SASSA confirms 65 officials dismissed since April 2025 | TimesLIVE |
On grant reviews: a review doesn’t mean your grant is cancelled. You get a notice and time to respond, and a suspension can be lifted. Our grant review and suspension guide explains each step (AllAfrica, February 2026).
Fake SASSA news to ignore
Fake grant news spreads fast on Facebook and WhatsApp, often to steal personal details. A well-known example is the “R1,682 family support grant”. The Department of Social Development said there is “no such programme”, and SASSA called the claim false (Africa Check via AllAfrica, December 2025). How to spot a fake:
- It asks you to register through a link that isn’t on a .gov.za website.
- It promises a new grant, double payment or bonus that no news outlet or government statement mentions.
- It wants your ID number, banking PIN or OTP. SASSA never asks for your PIN.
- It has spelling mistakes or pressures you to “share before it’s deleted”.
- It charges a fee. Applying for and checking a grant is always free.
If you’re unsure about something you’ve seen, check it against the sources below before you act on it.
Where to get official SASSA news
| Source | What you’ll find there |
|---|---|
| sassa.gov.za | Media statements, payment dates, forms |
| srd.sassa.gov.za | SRD status, applications and appeals |
| SAnews (sanews.gov.za) | Government news service, including SASSA announcements |
| SASSA on Facebook and X (@OfficialSASSA) | Daily updates and warnings about scams |
| SASSA call centre 0800 60 10 11 | Questions about your own grant |
For phone numbers, regional offices and email addresses, see our SASSA contact details page. For the official websites, see SASSA websites and portals.
What’s coming next
- 2 to 4 December 2026: December payments for older persons, disability and children’s grants. See our payment dates page.
- SRD appeal judgment: the Supreme Court of Appeal’s decision could change who qualifies for the R370 grant.
- February 2027 Budget: new grant amounts for April 2027 will be announced.
- Livelihoods grant law: draft legislation to replace the SRD with a permanent grant is still being prepared.
How we report SASSA news
Every item on this page links to the original source, usually SASSA, SAnews or a national newsroom such as EWN or TimesLIVE. We date each item, update this page when something changes and correct mistakes publicly. Read our editorial policy and corrections page. We are an independent guide, not SASSA.
Frequently asked questions
What is the latest SASSA news?
November 2026 payments were moved earlier for the 4 November elections, the SRD grant was extended for another year at R370, and SASSA has dismissed 65 officials for misconduct since April 2025.
When will SASSA pay November 2026 grants?
Older persons on 30 October, disability grants on 2 November, children’s grants on 3 November, and grants under review on 5 November.
Is the SRD grant ending in March 2027?
No. The October 2026 mini-budget extended the SRD grant for another year beyond March 2027.
Is the SRD grant increasing from R370?
No increase has been announced. It is still R370 a month.
Is the R1,682 family support grant real?
No. The Department of Social Development and SASSA said it is fake. Do not share your details.
Do I need to reapply for the SRD grant after the extension?
No. Your existing application continues and is checked every month.
Where can I check SASSA news is real?
Check sassa.gov.za, SAnews, SASSA’s official social media pages, or call 0800 60 10 11.
About this page
Written and checked by N Chris, for SASSA Status Check Help. News on this page is checked against SAnews, SASSA statements and reporting by EWN, TimesLIVE, Sowetan, Bizcommunity and Africa Check. We are not SASSA and never ask for your ID number, PIN or bank details. Read how we verify information.