Uncertainty surrounds April 2025 SASSA Older Person Grants

The future of April 2025 SASSA Older Person Grant and the fate of more than 4-million elderly beneficiaries has never been more uncertain. In an unprecedented turn of events, the South African Social Security Agency is yet to announce anything regarding April 2025 SASSA Older Person Grants. With a mere three weeks to go to the next disbursement, there is nothing official about annual increases or payment dates for April 2025 SASSA Older Person Grants.  

The nation’s pensioners who survive off government old-age grants have never been treated as poorly as they have in 2025 so far. Of course, we’re referring to the SASSA/Postbank card migration disaster that is still playing-out all around the country. At last count, only 1.2-million out of 3-million affected SASSA beneficiaries have had their cards successfully transferred. And parliament heard from a special committee just this week that making the Thursday 20 March 2025 deadline will be ‘impossible.’

APRIL 2025 SASSA OLDER PERSON GRANTS

However, the agency confirms that while old cards will stop working in two-weeks’ time, this will not stop April 2025 SASSA Older Person Grants from receiving their disbursements. SASSA and Postbank say beneficiaries simply won’t be able to draw the money as they usually would. Alternative arrangements to withdraw SASSA grants can be made at SA Post Office branches around the country.

Although, this will be of zero comfort to recipients of April 2025 SASSA Older Person Grants who have to travel far, and at great expense, from rural areas. Furthermore, parliament heard this week that more than 140 000 SASSA card swaps still need to take place per day if it hopes to meet its own difficult deadline. At last count, the state-run entity was barely able to transact 10 000 gold-to-black cards swaps each day.

WHAT ABOUT APRIL 2025 INCREASES?

Nevertheless, perhaps the greatness unknown about April 2025 SASSA Older Person Grants is when they will be paid. And how much the still-unconfirmed annual increases will actually be. The last officially communicated Older Person disbursements took place this week on Tuesday 4 March 2025. 60-to-74-year olds received R2 190 and over 75s received R2 210. And, in a never-before-seen turn of events, there is no official confirmation about what lies in store for April 2025 SASSA Older Person Grants.

Of course, the outlook for April 2025 SASSA Older Person Grants all depends on Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s upcoming Budget Speech. However, there is still much cause for alarm, after the Cabinet released a statement saying the revised budget was approved by all members of the GNU. Only for DA leader John Steenhuisen to take to social media saying there was infact no agreement as yet on the 2025 budget breakdown.

HOW TO QUALIFY FOR GOVERNMENT PENSION

As a result, anything we say about increases and pay dates for April 2025 SASSA Older Person Grants would be purely speculative. Instead, we’ll focus on what we do know and can share for those hoping to secure a government pension this year:

• Applications can take upwards of three months to be processed. However, if successful, your first payment will include backdated funds to the time of your application.
• Old-age benefits only apply to residents who are 60 years or older.
• Grants are asset and means tested. Therefore, when you apply, you must prove you’re sufficiently underprivileged to qualify.
• There are no online application forms. All transactions must be done in-person at a SASSA branch or office.
• Currently there are terrible queues, so we’d recommend making an appointment online first. Click HERE and follow the prompts.

PRESENT THE FOLLOWING DOCS TO SASSA

When you arrive for your April 2025 SASSA Older Person Grants interview, have the following documents ready for a SASSA agent to check over:

• Any documents proving your marital status.
• Proof of residence (a utility bill with your name on it, not older than three months’).
• Official bar-coded ID – smart card or green booklet.
• Confirmation of proof of income/financial dividends.
• Any relevant information regarding your assets/valuation of property.
• Declaration of private pension (if applicable).
• Valid three months’ statements certified by your bank (not older 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.

Note that the agency does allow a family member or friend to help you with your application. Simply provide them with a letter from your doctor explaining why you cannot attend the application interview personally. Plus, the above documentation must be taken to a police station and certified by a commissioner of oaths.

ASSET AND MEANS TEST THRESHOLD

As we explained earlier, April 2025 SASSA Older Person Grants depend on clients meeting the relevant income and asset limits for social welfare. They are as follows:

• R8 070 per month (R96 840 per year) income if single.
• R16 140 per month (R193 680 per year) income if married.
• Total value of assets R1 372 800 if single.
• Total value of assets R2 745 600 if married.

If your application is denied, you have 90 days to appeal the decision with the DSD by clicking HERE. Note that, once approved, SASSA does have the right to review your grant status occasionally. However, the agency must give you three-months’ notice in writing beforehand.

UPDATED AGENCY CONTACT LIST

Because the agency is terribly overworked assisting Postbank clients, you will have to be patient when contacting them:  

• SASSA toll-free line: 0800 601 011
• Head Office of SASSA: 012 400 2322
• USSD Postbank: *120*218*3#
• Email SASSA: grantsenquiries@sassa.gov.za
• Or email: president@presidency.gov.za
• WhatsApp SASSA: 082 046 8553