The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has announced increases to all social grants effective from April 1, 2025. The increases aim to help beneficiaries cope with rising living costs and inflation.

According to the Minister of Social Development, the increases were determined after careful consideration of the economic challenges facing grant recipients and the fiscal constraints of the government.

New Grant Amounts

The following increases will take effect from April 1, 2025:

• Old Age Grant (ages 60-74): Increased from R2,080 to R2,190 per month
• Old Age Grant (ages 75 and older): Increased from R2,100 to R2,210 per month
• Disability Grant: Increased from R2,080 to R2,190 per month
• Child Support Grant: Increased from R500 to R530 per month
• Foster Child Grant: Increased from R1,070 to R1,130 per month
• Care Dependency Grant: Increased from R2,080 to R2,190 per month
• Grant in Aid: Increased from R480 to R510 per month
• SRD R370 Grant: Increased from R350 to R370 per month

These increases represent an average rise of 5.3% across all grant types, which is slightly above the current inflation rate of 4.8%.

Impact on Beneficiaries

The increases will benefit approximately 18.7 million South Africans who rely on social grants for their livelihoods. For many households, these grants are the primary or only source of income.

"We understand the challenges that our beneficiaries face in these difficult economic times," said the SASSA CEO. "These increases, while modest, will help alleviate some of the financial pressure on the most vulnerable members of our society."

Budget Allocation

The government has allocated an additional R15 billion to the social grants budget to accommodate these increases. This brings the total social grants budget to R270 billion for the 2025/2026 financial year, representing approximately 15% of total government expenditure.

The Minister of Finance emphasized that despite fiscal constraints, social grants remain a priority for the government as they play a crucial role in reducing poverty and inequality in South Africa.

Payment Schedule

The new grant amounts will be reflected in payments from April 2025. Beneficiaries do not need to take any action to receive the increased amounts, as they will be automatically adjusted in the payment system.

SASSA has also confirmed that the payment schedule for the new financial year will be released in March 2025, with payments continuing to be made according to the last three digits of beneficiaries' ID or SASSA card numbers.

Additional Support Measures

In addition to the grant increases, SASSA has announced several initiatives to improve service delivery and support for grant recipients:

• Expansion of the SASSA mobile office program to reach more remote areas
• Implementation of a new queue management system at SASSA offices to reduce waiting times
• Enhancement of the SASSA mobile app to include more self-service features
• Partnerships with additional financial institutions to provide more payment options for beneficiaries

These measures are part of SASSA's ongoing efforts to improve the efficiency and accessibility of the social grants system.

Conclusion

The grant increases for the 2025/2026 financial year reflect the government's commitment to providing social protection to vulnerable South Africans. While economic challenges persist, these increases will provide some relief to millions of grant recipients across the country.

For more information about the grant increases or to check your grant status, visit the SASSA website or contact the SASSA toll-free helpline at 0800 60 10 11.