Pension question, South Africa
Can I get the South African older persons grant if I live abroad?
The older persons grant is means tested and requires you to live in South Africa, and it lapses when you are absent from the country. A few years on a South African payroll rarely leaves a state pension.
- Source: fsca.co.za, gepf.co.za, gov.za, read 4 October 2026
What to do next
- List each South African employer and the years you worked there.
- Note whether you worked for the government or a private employer.
- Run our free check to see which other countries may hold a pension in your name.
Check your own working life for free
Tell us where you worked. The free check shows which countries may hold a pension for you, and which can be ruled out and why. No sign in, no charge.
Run the free checkQuestions people also ask
Is there a yearly life certificate?
An older person's grant beneficiary paid through a bank, an institution or a procurator must complete a life certificate at SASSA offices every year, and is given three months' advance notice of the due date.
Do you give advice on what to do?
No. We identify where a pension is likely held and the official route to it, and we name each source with the date we read it. We do not give financial, tax or legal advice.