R2 400 a month and still not enough: One SASSA pensioner’s month-end reality

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One pensioner shares how her monthly SASSA payment disappears long before the next payday, leaving her household facing regular hardship.

0 A focused close-up of a senior adult wearing glasses, highlighting wisdom and experience. Image: Pexels A Gauteng pensioner who has received the R2 400 Older Person’s Grant for more than five years says her monthly payment still runs out before the month ends.

The woman, who asked not to be named, shared her experience in The South African’s SASSA grant survey. She receives R2 400 a month, the standard Older Person’s Grant amount since April 2026, paid directly into her bank account.

She rents privately and supports one to two people on her grant. She spends the money on a mix of food, rent and other household necessities, but it does not stretch far enough.

Asked whether the grant covers her basic needs, she said she regularly struggles to make ends meet. By the end of each month, nothing remains. She also confirmed that someone in her household went without food in the past month.

She remains unemployed and actively looking for work. She can travel less than five kilometres for a job, which narrows her options considerably.

Unemployment ranks as her biggest financial concern right now. For many older South Africans, the grant was meant to be a safety net, not the only income in the house.

She has also never applied for additional government support. She said she did not know what else was available.

Her experience with SASSA itself has been straightforward. She reports no problems with her payments and rates the agency’s communication as adequate.

However, she said her biggest challenge involves knowing when to renew or reapply.

If she could change one thing about SASSA, she would increase the grant amount. That wish reflects a common theme in The South African’s SASSA survey, where pensioners, caregivers and SRD recipients say payments cannot keep pace with living costs.

Her story shows how a grant can arrive on time, every month, and still fall short. For households that depend on a single payment, an empty account by month-end means empty cupboards too.

If you receive a SASSA grant and want to share your story, we want to hear from you.

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