May 2026 payment schedule at a glance
| Grant type | Payment date | Day | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Older Persons Grant (Pension) | 4 May 2026 | Monday | Paid |
| Disability Grant | 5 May 2026 | Tuesday | Paid |
| Children's Grants (CSG, Foster Care, CDG) | 6 May 2026 | Wednesday | Paid |
| Review and verification cases | 7 May 2026 | Thursday | Paid — notified beneficiaries |
| Social Relief of Distress (SRD R370) | 25-30 May 2026 | Month-end batches | Paid — batches complete |
What to know about May payments
With no public holidays in the month, May pays exactly on pattern. It is also the ideal month for a mid-year check-up: confirm that April's increased amount is still correct, verify your cellphone number is current so review SMSes reach you, and make sure your eLife or income verification details are up to date if you receive the SRD R370.
Workers' Day fell on Friday 1 May, before the first pay date of the month, so collections started on Monday 4 May as scheduled. Beneficiaries who collect at retail tills reported normal queues throughout the week.
Five-minute mid-year check
1) Compare your May amount with the published rate for your grant. 2) Dial the SASSA WhatsApp line to confirm your registered number. 3) If you changed banks recently, confirm the switch completed — partial switches can split a payment.
What are the SASSA payment dates for May 2026?
Older Persons grants were paid on Monday 4 May 2026, Disability grants on Tuesday 5 May, Children's grants on Wednesday 6 May, and SRD R370 payments ran from 25 to 30 May.
Did Workers' Day (1 May) delay payments?
No. The holiday fell on Friday 1 May before any grant was due, so the schedule ran unchanged from Monday 4 May.
Is May paid at the new increased rates?
Yes. The increases that took effect in April continue in May. If your May payment is still at last year's rate, contact SASSA — two consecutive short payments mean a system problem worth reporting.
When does SRD pay in May 2026?
SRD batches started from Monday 25 May and continued through 30 May. Your individual date comes via SMS once your monthly approval processes.
Sources used on this page
Dates reflect the published May 2026 schedule.
Need Official Assistance?
This is an independent informational resource. For official services — checking your grant status, updating your details, or submitting an appeal — please use the official SASSA portals directly: