Let’s get the bad news about SASSA grants and Christmas out the way first, shall we. No, sadly, the South African Social Security Agency does not see fit to pay an end-of-year Christmas bonus to beneficiaries. And the reason for this is purely down to budget restrictions.
Unlike salaried employees in South Africa who might be in line for a holiday bonus if certain performance criteria are met at work, the same does not apply to SASSA grants and Christmas. Nearly 45% of the South African population (28-million residents) already receive social grants. And yet our taxpayers (approximately 7.5 million) are stagnating. This means there’s nothing left over for a bonus.
SASSA GRANTS AND CHRISTMAS 2024
However, on the topic of SASSA grants and Christmas, there is actually something for the 28-million residents to be cheery about. That’s the unique fact that SASSA Old-Age Grants and SASSA Childcare Grants will be paid as usual in January 2025.
It may sound crazy but, in one respect, that puts financially challenged social welfare beneficiaries ahead of employed, salaried South Africans this festive season. That’s because there could be as much as a 50-day gap between most employees’ December 2024 and January 2025 paycheques. Most will be paid this Friday 13 December 2024 and only again in the last week of January 27-31 2025. A long time to stretch …
PAYMENT DATES AND AMOUNTS
So, let’s recap the situation surrounding SASSA grants and Christmas for households who will have to work hard to make ends meet till the New Year. SASSA Older Persons Grants will pay: R2 190 for 60-to-74-year olds. And R2 210 for 75 years of age and above. Likewise, SASSA Disability Grants will be R2 190. And the three SASSA Childcare Grants will be: Care Dependency R2 190, Foster Child R1 190 and R530 for Child Support. Payment dates in January 2025 are listed near the end of the article.
Having said that, the Department of Social Development (DSD) and SASSA are undergoing some growing pains. And this is likely to shift the landscape of SASSA grants in 2025. Just last week the minister of social development saw fit to suspend the SASSA CEO, replacing her with Themba Matlou in an acting capacity. This is to investigate how she got the position in the first place back in 2019. But talk from the Public Prosecutor is that there are larger concerns over fraud, corruption and underspending.
SECOND MOST EXPENSIVE DEPARTMENT
Currently, government expenditure on social development and SASSA grants is the second highest in the country. First is our national debt, second is social welfare and third is health care. As a result, the National Treasury is coming after the billions missing from DSD balance sheets. It wants to see large-scale data crosschecking (with Home Affairs and banks) to better validate beneficiaries. This could make applications harder in the New Year.
Nevertheless, over the next three years, government will spend R1.1 trillion on social welfare services. R358 billion next year is anticipated to rise to R418 billion by 2027/28. We looked back at historical figures and believe that actual SASSA grants going to recepients in 2025 will not increase by more than 5%. This has tended to be the threshold the National Treasury works within. Therefore, check out our predictions for 2025 increases below …
PROJECTED 2025 SASSA GRANT INCREASES
- SASSA Old-Age Grants (aged 60 to 74) currently: R2 190
- Estimated 2025 value: R2 290 in April 2025 plus a further R10 to R2 300 in October 2025.
- SASSA Old-Age Grants (75 and older) currently: R2 210
- Estimated 2025 value: R2 310 in April 2025 plus a further R10 to R2 320 in October 2025.
- SASSA Disability and Childcare Dependency currently: R2 190
- Estimated 2025 value: R2 290 in April 2025 plus a further R10 to R2 300 in October 2025.
- SASSA War Veterans currently: R2 190
- Estimated 2025 value: R2 290 in April 2025 plus a further R10 to R2 300 in October 2025.
- SASSA Child Support currently: R530
- Estimated 2025 value: R560 in April 2025.
- SASSA Child Support Top-Up currently: R250
- Estimated 2025 value: R265 in April 2025.
- SASSA Foster Care currently: R1 190
- Estimated 2025 value: R1 400 in April 2025.
SASSA Social Relief of Distress (SRD) will remain unchanged at R370 in 2025.
CONFIRMED 2025 PAY DATES
JANUARY 2025
- Older Persons Grants: Friday 3 January 2025.
- Disability Grants: Monday 6 January 2025.
- Children’s Grants: Tuesday 7 January 2025.
FEBRUARY 2025
- Older Persons Grants: Tuesday 4 February 2025.
- Disability Grants: Wednesday 5 February 2025.
- Children’s Grants: Thursday 6 February 2025.
MARCH 2025
- Older Persons Grants: Tuesday 4 March 2025.
- Disability Grants: Wednesday 5 March 2025.
- Children’s Grants: Thursday 6 March 2025.
WHAT DO YOU HAVE PLANNED FOR THE FESTIVE SEASON?
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