Grant-in-Aid 2026: R580 extra when you need full-time care
On this page (6 sections)
Grant-in-Aid pays an extra R580 a month on top of a grant you already receive — the Older Persons, Disability or War Veterans grant — when you cannot look after yourself and need full-time care from another person. It is not a separate grant and does not replace yours: R2,400 becomes R2,980. All it takes is a medical report confirming the need for care, and a visit to your SASSA office. It is among the most under-claimed payments in the system.
Who qualifies
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Existing grant | You already receive the Older Persons, Disability or War Veterans grant |
| Need for care | You cannot look after yourself because of a physical or mental disability, and need full-time care from another person |
| Medical confirmation | A medical report confirming that need |
| Institutional care | Not payable if you are cared for in an institution receiving a government subsidy for your care or housing |
| Means test | No separate test — your main grant's assessment stands |
What counts as needing full-time care
The question is whether you can manage the ordinary activities of daily living on your own: washing, dressing, eating, using the toilet, moving around the house, taking medication safely. Needing help with most of these is what the medical report should describe. As elsewhere in the system, the assessment is functional — write down specifically what you cannot do alone before you see the doctor.
How to claim it
- Ask your doctor or clinic for a report
It should state plainly that you require full-time care from another person, and which daily activities you cannot manage alone.
- Go to your SASSA office with the report and your ID
Say that you already receive your main grant and want to apply for Grant-in-Aid. You are not reapplying for the main grant.
- Complete the Grant-in-Aid application
The officer completes it with you and may arrange a medical assessment to confirm the need.
- Keep the receipt
As with any application, the date on the receipt is what any backpay is calculated from.
What it is not
| Situation | The right grant |
|---|---|
| A child with a severe disability needing full-time care | Care Dependency Grant — R2,400 |
| An adult unable to work because of disability | Disability Grant — R2,400 |
| You are the carer, and you need income | Grant-in-Aid is paid to the person needing care, not the carer. Check your own options with the benefits checker |
| You are 60+ and need care | Older Persons Grant plus Grant-in-Aid — R2,980 in total |
Frequently asked questions
How much is Grant-in-Aid in 2026?
R580 a month from 1 April 2026, up from R560. It is paid on top of your existing grant.
Do I need to apply for a new grant?
No. Grant-in-Aid is added to a grant you already receive. Take a medical report and your ID to your SASSA office.
Is there a separate means test?
No. Passing the means test for your main grant is enough.
Can the person caring for me claim it?
The grant is paid to you, the person needing care, and is added to your own grant.
I am in an old age home. Can I claim?
Not if the institution receives a government subsidy for your care or housing. A privately paid facility does not necessarily disqualify you — ask at the office.
Can I get Grant-in-Aid with the Child Support Grant?
No. It attaches only to the Older Persons, Disability or War Veterans grant.
Verified information
- Responsible body
- South African Social Security Agency (SASSA)
- Official source
- sassa.gov.za
- Status
- Officially confirmed
- Date verified
- Confidence
- High confidence
R580 confirmed as the amount in force since 1 April 2026, when Grant-in-Aid rose from R560. Eligibility confirmed against SASSA guidance on access to Grant-in-Aid benefits.
SA Benefits is independent and not affiliated with SASSA or government. Editorial guidance on this page is clearly separated from official information — see how we verify.
What's changed on this page (1)
Published with the corrected R580 amount — this site previously carried R560, the pre-April 2026 figure — and the add-on rule that means no new grant application is needed.
Site-wide corrections are logged publicly in the corrections register.
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