Grant increases have been widely anticipated, and it has now been announced by the South African Social Security and Social Services Agency. An overwhelming number of South African’s will benefit from these increases. The purpose of the grants is to aid pensioners, caregivers, and the physically challenged to adequately provide for basic needs such as food, transport, and even electricity, the prices of which have sharply risen. I will be drafting a detailed payment analysis of the new payment amounts, their effective dates, and the effect these changes will carry to the beneficiaries.
Updated Grant Amounts for 2025
SASSA’s grant increases, set for October 2025, will be a step toward alleviating the challenges posed by inflation and increased living expenses and SASSA intends to remedy this. The Older Persons Grant issued to persons aged 60 and above will increase by R100 to R2,290 for those aged 60 to 74 and to R2,310 for those 75 and older. The Disability Grant will similarly increase by R100 to R2,290. The Child Support Grant will increase by R30 to R540 per child per month. The Care Dependency, Foster Child, and War Veterans grants will also be adjusted, but their revised amounts are not yet available. An increment on Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grants took effect in April 2025. The increase still recognizes the distressed individuals aged 18 to 59 who remain unemployed, continuing with the same support of R370.
Payment Schedule and Accessibility
In an attempt to reduce delays in payments, SASSA has reevaluated their payment schedules. The Older Person’s Grant is the first to be paid, usually by the third or fourth day of the month, and is followed by the Disability Grant Payments. Child Support and other grants are paid last. Beneficiaries may use SASSA Gold Cards, receive payments directly in their bank accounts, or collect their payments from retail outlets such as Shoprite and Pick n Pay. There are other methods of payment as well to receive their monies. The updated grant amounts are paid without needing manual intervention. Beneficiaries should update their banking and contact details with SASSA and take precautions to protect themselves against fraud, as failure to do so may lead to inconveniences. For the record, SASSA does not ask for banking PINs or passwords, nor can these be shared legally by the owners with any third party.
Eligibility Guidelines and Submission of Applications
The 2025 grant period has the same criteria as grant periods in the past. For the grants, applicants are required to be South African citizens, permanent residents, or refugees and meet the income criteria for the means-tested grant. For the Child Support Grant, applicants must earn below R61,200 if single, or R122,400 if married. A valid South African ID must be shown, along with proof of income, and for disability grants, a recent medical certificate. Applications may be made online at the SASSA portal or in-person at the nearest offices. Recipients of the grants do not have to apply for the increases as they are automatic. New applicants must have the full set of documents to minimise the delay which can take up to 90 days.
Effect on the South African Household Budget
South Africa has nearly 28 million citizens dependent on social grants. Even the smallest improvement can relieve some of the weight unemployment and inflation have placed on South African families. Increasing the Older Persons and Disability Social Grants by R100 would, for example, enable beneficiaries to afford a meal or some transport, while an increase in Child Support Grant would allow the purchase of school necessities. The perennial challenges of possible delays in processing and fraud remain. To protect the grant’s system, SASSA is now employing biometric verification to curb identity theft and grant fraud. To ensure that they are fully supported, beneficiaries should be vigilant for updates and pertinent information from credible outlets, such as the SASSA website or the toll-free helpline at 0800 60 10 11.
also read : SASSA September 2025 Grant Payment Schedule: Updated Dates and Details