As confirmed in the Budget Speech, social grants will increase from 1 April 2025 with amounts ranging from R30 – R130.
Social grants increase annually in South Africa in April. Although the Budget Speech for the 2025/2026 financial year hasn’t been passed in Parliament due to disagreements over the VAT hike, the increases will reportedly kick in for the April SASSA payments.
SOCIAL GRANTS INCREASES FOR APRIL 2025
In his delayed Budget Speech, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said to “cushion” the poor against the proposed VAT increase, social grants will be allocated R284.7 billion in 2025/2026.
Here are the confirmed increases:
- 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
SASSA PAYMENT DATES FOR APRIL 2025
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) distributes social grants to millions of beneficiaries in South Africa. Beneficiaries can receive payments from supermarkets such as Pick n Pay, Boxer, USave merchants, Checkers, and Shoprite. They can obtain this through their SASSA card, CashSend, or by getting the amount directly transferred into their bank account.
The payment schedule is as follows:
- Old age grant – 2 April 2025
- Disability grant – 3 April 2025
- Child support grant and others – 4 April 2025
HOW TO RECEIVE YOUR GRANT IF YOU HAVEN’T SWITCHED TO THE POSTBANK BLACK CARD
Social grant beneficiaries had until 20 March to switch from the SASSA-issued gold card to the new Postbank-issued black card.
During a media briefing earlier this month, Postbank CEO Nikki Mbengashe said starting from the next grant payments that are scheduled for April 2025 and onwards, social grant beneficiaries that are yet to replace their gold cards with Postbank black cards, can withdraw their grant at their nearest South African Post Office.
“There are currently 543 Post Office branches countrywide that we are working with. All that one will need to make this withdrawal is their ID (green barcoded ID, smart card ID, or temporary ID),” Mbengashe said.
It’s important to note, the Post Office branch payments will be restricted to social grant beneficiaries that are yet to replace their SASSA gold cards, asylum seekers and Postbank green Mzansi/blue cards’ grant beneficiaries.
Beneficiaries who already have Postbank black cards are urged to use their card through ATMs and retailers to access their funds.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE SOCIAL GRANTS INCREASES KICKING OFF IN APRIL 2025?
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