SASSA social grant payments: These increases take effect in April

Delivering the 2025 Budget Speech in Parliament last Wednesday (12 March), Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said the number of social grant beneficiaries – excluding those receiving the SRD grant – is expected to rise to some 19 million in 2025/26 and 19.3 million in 2027/28 due to a growing population of older persons.

The grant increases this year include:

• Old age grant will increase from R2185 to R2315
• War veterans grant will increase from R2205 to R2335
• Disability grant will go up from R2185 to R2315
• Foster care grant rises from R1180 to R1250
• The care dependency grant will increase from R2185 to R2315
• Child support grant will go up from R530 to R560
• The grant-in-aid will increase from R530 to R560

In the Budget Review, the National Treasury announced an R8.2 billion increase in the social grants budget over the medium term to address higher living costs.

A total of R35.2 billion has been allocated to maintain the current R370 monthly payment for SRD beneficiaries, including administration costs.

The Department of Social Development, responsible for managing social grants, has been allocated R422.3 billion for 2025/26, projected to rise to R452.7 billion by 2027/28, reflecting an average annual growth rate of 4.5%.

“This funding supports poverty reduction through social grants, the provision of risk benefits through social insurance and the delivery of welfare services, development initiatives, empowerment programmes, gender equality initiatives and advocacy for children, women, youth, the elderly and individuals with disabilities.

“Social grant spending makes up 81% of the allocation for this function. At an average annual growth rate of 5.3%, social protection spending increases above inflation over the medium term; however, social grant reform and efficiency savings will be necessary to ensure the sustainability of the social security system,” the National Treasury said.