Overview of SASSA grant increases

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In the Budget Speech 2025 on 12 March, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced increases to the various South African Social Security Services (SASSA) grants. A total of R284.7 billion will be allocated to social security in the 2025/26 budget to fund the following grant increases.

“Ours is one of the most comprehensive social safety nets among emerging economies. This reflects our commitment to addressing poverty and inequality, while keeping our spending sustainable,” said the finance minister.

Increases to Old Age and Disability Grants

Both the Old Age Grant and the Disability Grant will increase by R130 on 1 April to R2315. This was announced by the finance minister in his speech in Cape Town.

Godongwana told South Africans that, in his original February Budget Speech, he had planned for an increase of R150. However, he settled for a lower increase this time around, in an effort to balance the books without raising VAT to the 17% he had originally desired.

In his 2025 Budget Speech, Godongwana said he had approved above-inflation increases to the grants in order to alleviate the impact of 0.5% increase in VAT.

Increases to Child Support and Foster Care Grants

Parents, guardians and foster carers can look forward to extra money in their pocket from 1 April. The Child Support Grant will rise by R30 to R560, while the Foster Care Grant also increases by R70.

Extension of SRD Grant In Budget Speech 2025

The Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress Grant has once again been extended for another year, until 31 March 2026. The grant, which supports over 10 million South Africans, has risen from R350 to R370 per month.

“The SRD will be used as a basis for the introduction of a sustainable form of income support for unemployed people,” said Godongwana in his speech.

Other Grant Increases

While the minister didn’t specify these in Budget Speech 2025, Business Tech reports increases to three other SASSA grants.

The War Veterans Grant and Care Dependency Grant will each increase by R130 per month. That means a total grant of R2335 will be paid to eligible veterans, the highest grant figure. Care Dependency Grant recipients will get R2315.

The 2025 Budget also allocates an additional R30 to the Grant-in-Aid. Beneficiaries will receive R560 per month in the 2025/2026 year.