An important update on the payment of social grants for January 2026 has been issued by the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA). They prove to be of great importance to millions of South Africans who rely on social assistance as a way of making out a living-The beneficiaries are now encouraged to know about the payment dates, grant types, and steps to avoid delays as the new year has begun.
Confirmed payment dates of SASSA January 2026
SASSA has confirmed that social grants will be paid during the first full week of January 2026. Payments should follow the already established schedule to spread out congestion at pay points and ATMs.
Elderly Persons Grant: Tuesday, January 6, 2026.
Disability Grant and CIC: Wednesday, January 7, 2026.
Child Support Grant, Foster Care Grant and other child-related grants: Thursday, January 8, 2026
After the payment date, the beneficiaries do not need to withdraw funds for any reason, as the money will be in their accounts to remain until it is usefully spent.
Grant Amounts and What to Expect
January 2026 grant amounts remain on par with the last government changes within the previous financial year. As of now, no abrupt shifts have been officially confirmed for January. Beneficiaries must nevertheless keep their ears open once the next budget speeches are delivered, for any such novelties could dictate the trend of future payments.
Some of the most common grants are:
- Old Age Grant
- Disability Grant
- Child Support Grant
- Foster Child Grant
- Care Dependency Grant
- Social Relief off Distress (SRD) Grant
- Each grant has its prerequisite criteria and value.
How SASSA Pays Grants
SASSA offers numerous payment schemes to select from, ensuring impacts to each corner of the country. Grant payments can be made either through:
Direct bank deposits
SASSA payment cards
Some specific retail stores that double as official paypoints
With the help of direct bank deposits, this method remains the safest and most rapid, thus eliminating the excess time spent queuing for beneficiaries.
SRD R370 Grant Updates for January 2026
Applicants for the SRD R370 grant are advised to regularly check the payment status online. Knowing that approval does not mean immediate payment being processed, conduct more time-consuming verification processes. Applicants that have experienced unsuccessful evaluations can appeal overtly within the allowed timeframe.
Guidelines for the prevention of deportation and suspension of payments
SASSA is cautioning that all vital details pertaining to the individual are up-to-date and current; therefore, the house must guarantee the accuracy of all information, including:
All personal information including updating banking particulars
Pertinent details like phone updates and variations in income or household situation
Failure to keep the pertinent details up-to-date may result in delays or suspension of payments.
Important Reminder to Our Beneficiaries:
SASSA urges beneficiaries to stay vigilant and only trust the official communications for much-needed information.
The intensity of misinformation and scams is increasing around the time of payments, with platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp being mediums of scams. Beneficiaries are discouraged from divulging key personal and banking pieces of information with unverifiable sources.