This brief describes the Older Persons, Care Needs and Social Grants in South Africa report which explores the relationship between older persons, their care needs and social grants in South Africa. We look at how the grant gets transformed into meeting the needs of older persons. Building on our earlier work on Funding Elder Care, this report draws on national statistics & new qualitative findings with 80 families in the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal to consider the care practices, care needs and the reach of the OPG. The findings highlight both the contributions the grants make to support older persons and their households but we also draw attention to how it falls short & what gets sacrificed when cutting back is essential.