Mayday for delayed Easter 2025 SASSA Old-Age Grants

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In the midst of on-going economic challenges and maladministration, the South African Social Security Agency will hope that Easter 2025 SASSA Old-Age Grants go off without a hitch next month. However, anyone who has perused the recently updated payment schedule for Easter 2025 SASSA Old-Age Grants will have already spotted a telling issue …

Due to an anomaly on the calendar, Easter 2025 SASSA Old-Age Grants will be slightly later than most beneficiaries are accustomed to. South Africa’s elderly population, already faced with bad news of VAT hikes being approved for the year, will have to wait five weeks this cycle to the next government pension payout …

EASTER 2025 SASSA OLD-AGE GRANTS

Usual a time of rest and relaxation, the Easter long weekend can also be an untimely financial burden on SASSA beneficiaries. Image: File

April 2025 SASSA Older Person Grants were disbursed last week, on Wednesday 2 April. And the next scheduled payment falls only on Tuesday 6 May 2025. Not only is this one-week later, but it also bookends the Easter holidays, which are always a financially trying time for SASSA clients. This anomaly has prompted many of our readers to write in and ask why SASSA cannot return payments to the 1^st of each month.

Furthermore, the Easter long weekend runs from Friday 18 April to Monday 21 April 2025. And there’s the ever-present Worker’s Day on Thursday 1 May that many will extend into a second long weekend, too. All of this puts extra burden on household finances as families entertain visits and there is less earning potential for casual workers. Many of whom also support multiple family members off theoir modest Older Person SASSA grants.

APRIL 2025 GRANT INCREASES WELCOME

Be sure to diarise the SASSA payments dates for the next financial year. Image: SASSA

Nevertheless, despite challenges, the good news for Easter 2025 SASSA Old-Age Grants is that the country’s over 60s did receive their first above-inflation increase earlier this month. The county’s elderly has waited patiently for April 2025 increases to be commensurate with rapidly rising cost of living. And finally, from last week, 5.9% increases have made a positive difference in their lives. Even if the R130 annual increases will start to be eroded away by unwelcome VAT increases from next month, too.

When Easter 2025 SASSA Old-Age Grants roll off the national SOCPEN system next month, on Tuesday 6 May 2025, here’s how much recipients will receive. Beneficiaries aged from 60 to 74 will receive R2 310. And over 75s will receive the higher R2 330. Older Person grant recipients account for roughly 4-million SASSA payments each month. War Veterans get the higher R2 330 stipend, too. New applicants should remember that processing may take as long as three months to be approved. However, if and when you are successful, you will receive backdated funds to the time of your first application.

ASSET AND MEANS ELIGIBILITY IN 2025

With SASSA dates finally in places for the rest of the year, recipients can try to plan their finances accordingly. Image: File

Furthermore, new applicants who are unfamiliar with the process should keep in mind that Easter 2025 SASSA Old-Age Grants are asset and means tested. This is so financial support is provided to only those who truly require it. Therefore, when you apply, the agency wants to see that you’re sufficiently underprivileged to qualify. So, let’s go through the eligibility criteria here …

There is no online application form available. All applications for Easter 2025 SASSA Old-Age Grants must be made in-person at a SASSA office, with an official present to oversee the application. While still occasionally offline, a SASSA Services Portal allows you to book an appointment online first – click HERE for more. You do this before you present your documents and biometric data in-person at a SASSA branch. You will need to show SASSA the following at your in-person appointment:

Official bar-coded ID – smart card or green booklet.
Documents proving your marital status.
Proof of residence (a utility bill with your name on it).
Confirmation of your proof of income and/or financial dividends.
Any relevant information regarding your assets, valuation of property you own.
Declaration of private pension in your name (if applicable).
Valid three months’ statements certified by your bank (not more than three months old).
Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) membership book, or discharge certificate from your previous job.
Copy of your will, first and final liquidation and distribution accounts if your spouse has passed away in the last five years.

WHO QUALIFIES FOR SASSA OLDER PERSON GRANTS?

The nation’s elderly have earned the highest grants payable in SASSA social welfare, and rightly so. Image: File

If you have a private pension, savings and personal assets, your application is unlikely to be approved. That is because SASSA is compelled by the National Treasury to enforce the following income and asset limits:

Income limit of R8 070 per month (R96 840 per year) if single.
Income limit of R16 140 per month (R193 680 per year) if married.
Total value of your assets must not exceed R1 372 800 if single.
Total value of your assets must not be higher than R2 745 600 if married.

Nevertheless, the agency does allow a family member or friend to help you with your application if you’re too old or sick to travel. All you need is a letter from a doctor. And all of the above documentation must be taken to a police station and certified by a commissioner of oaths. Finally, if Easter 2025 SASSA Old-Age Grants are denied, you have 90 days to appeal the decision with the DSD by clicking HERE and following the prompts.

With Postbank migration delays likely until the end of May 2025, getting hold of the agency will be difficult. Image: File

SASSA is still notoriously overworked and understaffed, so very difficult to get hold of. Nevertheless, contact them for any queries you may have:

SASSA toll-free line: 0800 601 011
Head Office of SASSA: 012 400 2322
Email SASSA: grantsenquiries@sassa.gov.za
Or email: president@presidency.gov.za

Also note that you will never have to reapply for SASSA Old-Age Grants once you have been approved. However, the agency can choose to review your status at any time. This is to confirm you have not misrepresented yourself in your application. And to check that your means have not suddenly improved since you first applied. SASSA must give three-months’ notice in writing before a review takes place.