South Africa · Grants & Unclaimed Benefits · 2026/2027
South Africans may qualify for different social grants or may have unclaimed retirement benefits linked to previous employment.
These are different systems with different eligibility, verification and application processes. Use this guide to identify the route that best matches your situation before continuing.
Start with the route that matches your situation
Compare the main South African grant and unclaimed-benefit categories before opening another process
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What’s covered in this guide
- → SRD Grant — R370/month for unemployed South Africans
- → Child Support Grant — R580/month per child
- → Older Persons Grant — R2,400/month for those 60+
- → Disability Grant — R2,400/month for qualifying conditions
- → Unclaimed Pension Funds — money from previous employers
1. SRD Grant — Social Relief of Distress
R370 every month for South Africans with no income
The SRD Grant is a social-assistance payment for people who meet the current eligibility requirements. It is not an “unclaimed money” account: an applicant must meet the rules that apply to the relevant assessment period.
The SRD amount remains R370 per month in the 2026/2027 period. Payment and application arrangements should be confirmed through the current SASSA/SRD channels, because the available process can change over time.
Who qualifies
- ✓ South African citizen, refugee, or asylum seeker
- ✓ Between 18 and 59 years old
- ✓ No income or income below the threshold
- ✓ Not receiving any other SASSA grant
Nkosi, 27 — East London
“I applied three times and kept getting declined. The fourth time I went in person and they found my ID was linked to a UIF record from an old job. They helped me close it and I was approved the following month.”
Continues on Coches · Includes eligibility context and the relevant official route
2. Child Support Grant
R580 per child every month — for caregivers who qualify
The Child Support Grant pays R580 per child per month to the primary caregiver. It is one of the most widely received grants in South Africa — but a significant number of caregivers who qualify have never applied, or stopped receiving payments without knowing why.
Multiple children in the same household can each qualify independently. Two children means R1,160 per month. Three children means R1,740. The grant is assessed per child, not per household.
Who qualifies
- ✓ Primary caregiver of a child under 18
- ✓ South African citizen, refugee, or asylum seeker
- ✓ Income below the means test threshold
- ✓ Child must be a South African citizen or permanent resident
Zanele, 52 — Soweto
“I am raising my daughter’s three children. I didn’t know I could apply as a grandmother. When I found out, I applied for all three. We now receive R1,740 a month — it changed everything for us.”
Continues on Coches · Includes eligibility context and the relevant official route
3. Older Persons Grant
R2,400 every month for South Africans aged 60 and older
The Older Persons Grant pays up to R2,400 per month for qualifying people aged 60 to 74 in the 2026/2027 period, with a higher amount for qualifying beneficiaries aged 75 and older. Eligibility also depends on the applicable means test and other SASSA requirements.
Being 60 or older does not by itself confirm eligibility. Income, assets, residence and other requirements can matter, so the current SASSA criteria should be checked before applying.
Who qualifies
- ✓ South African citizen or permanent resident aged 60+
- ✓ Income and assets below the means test threshold
- ✓ Not already receiving a government grant of the same type
- ✓ Not living in a state-funded institution
A useful check before applying
Review the current income and asset limits instead of assuming that age alone, home ownership or a small private pension automatically confirms or excludes eligibility.
Continues on Coches · Includes eligibility context and the relevant official route
4. Disability Grant
R2,400 every month for South Africans with a qualifying condition
The Disability Grant pays R2,400 per month in the 2026/2027 period to qualifying applicants aged 18 to 59 whose physical or mental disability makes them unfit for work for the period required by the programme. A medical assessment and the other SASSA criteria still apply.
The assessment is not based only on the name of a condition. SASSA considers the medical assessment and how the disability affects the applicant’s ability to work, together with the programme’s other eligibility requirements.
Who qualifies
- ✓ South African citizen or permanent resident aged 18–59
- ✓ Medical condition confirmed by a doctor or specialist
- ✓ Condition prevents you from supporting yourself financially
- ✓ Income and assets below the SASSA means test threshold
Ayanda, 38 — Durban
“I have been living with a chronic back condition for years. I always thought only people in wheelchairs could apply. My doctor told me I qualified and helped me get the assessment done. I was approved and now receive R2,400 every month.”
Continues on Coches · Includes eligibility context and the relevant official route
5. Unclaimed Pension Funds — FSCA & GEPF
Possible retirement benefits linked to previous employment
Previous employment can sometimes be linked to an unclaimed pension or provident-fund benefit, but a former job does not automatically mean that money is still payable. The relevant fund or administrator must verify the record and confirm whether a benefit remains due.
For many retirement funds, the FSCA provides a free search that can identify a possible match and provide the fund or administrator details for follow-up. Qualifying public-service employment follows a separate GEPF route.
Who may have unclaimed funds
- ✓ People who changed jobs and lost track of an old pension or provident-fund record
- ✓ Former employees who still have old fund statements, payslips or administrator details
- ✓ People investigating a possible benefit linked to a former employer
- ✓ Beneficiaries or family representatives following up on a deceased member’s record
Use the route that matches the old employment
For a pension or provident-fund record linked to a previous employer, see our step-by-step FSCA pension search guide.
If the employment was connected to qualifying public service, use the separate GEPF unclaimed-benefits guide.
Don’t leave money unclaimed
Social grants and unclaimed retirement benefits are not the same type of payment. Each route has its own eligibility, verification and application requirements.
Start with the category that best matches your circumstances. The links above continue to more detailed Coches guides, where the relevant official process is explained before you submit personal information.
Frequently asked questions