The Ministry of Finance has abolished double social grant payments effective November 2026, ending the practice of paying some pensioners and children’s grant beneficiaries two months’ benefits in advance.
The decision, announced on 27 October 2026, means all social grants will be paid monthly throughout the year, replacing the previous arrangement under which some beneficiaries received combined payments in November or January.
The changes affect a social assistance system that supported 954,388 beneficiaries at a cost of N$7.27 billion during the 2025/26 financial year.
The Ministry of Finance confirmed that beneficiaries who previously received their November and December payments together in November would now receive separate payments in each month.
Similarly, recipients of children’s grants who previously received double payments in January will receive one payment each month.
“Previously, some beneficiaries received two months’ payments at once, either in November or in January. This practice has been discontinued,” the ministry said.
The new payment arrangement applies to old-age pensions, disability grants for children and adults, vulnerable grants, foster care grants and maintenance grants.
The ministry stressed that the changes would not reduce beneficiaries’ annual grant entitlements, but would instead alter the timing of payments.
“You are not losing any money. The total amount you receive in a year stays the same,” the ministry stated in an accompanying question-and-answer document.
The government said the monthly payment system would ensure beneficiaries receive a regular income throughout the year, including during December, rather than receiving advance payments that cover two months.
The ministry advised beneficiaries to adjust their household budgets to accommodate the new payment schedule, particularly during the festive season and the back-to-school period.
“Plan your household budget month by month, especially for festive season and back-to-school costs,” the ministry said.
The changes come as government spending on social assistance remains substantial, with the Ministry of Finance reporting that it pays approximately N$633 million in grants every month.
According to the ministry, social grant expenditure amounts to approximately N$7.3 billion in the current financial year, providing regular financial support to pensioners, qualifying children and other vulnerable Namibians.
The government spent N$7.27 billion on social grants in the 2025/26 financial year, supporting 954,388 beneficiaries.
The Ministry of Finance said it was working closely with the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare to ensure that the transition to monthly payments does not disrupt beneficiaries.
Under the existing administrative arrangement, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare is responsible for receiving and assessing grant applications, while the Ministry of Finance handles payments to approved beneficiaries through NamPost and commercial banks.
The ministry maintained that payments would continue without interruption despite the changes to the payment schedule.
