How much government will invest in SASSA social grants
The recent grants increases will cost the government more than ever. How much will the government in in SASSA social grants in 2025?
SASSA Social Grants in 2025 are likely to cost the government R266 billion, reports Daily Investor. You can also quantify this as 3.6% of GDP. Moreover, the figure is significant increase from the 2023/24 financial year, in which it spent R250 billion.
TRENDING: SASSA grants post this year’s budget speech
As if to calm concerns of overspending on SASSA Social Grants in 2025, the National Treasury was quick to mention they would decrease the portion of South African Social Security Agency grants in the next three years (2025-2027).
SASSA SOCIAL GRANTS IN 2025 (AND BEYOND)
Spending on SASSA Social Grants will breakdown as follows:
- 2022/23: R233 billion
- 2023/24: R250 billion
- 2024/25: R266 billion
- 2025/26: R246 billion
- 2026/27: R259 billion
Furthermore, the National Treasury’s medium-term expenditure framework (MTEF) period has allocated R1.17 trillion to social grants and welfare services. Following next year’s (2025) record spending on the welfare state, you’ll note the planned decrease.
SOCIAL RELIEF OF DISTRESS
Moreover, the decrease in 2026 will be due to a reduction in spending on the COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant. Factoring in inflation and increased access for eligible beneficiaries, R33.6 billion in 2024/25 is in fact a decrease from the R33.89 billion Treasury has allotted currently.
Additionally, forecasts say 28 million will get onto the welfare system this year, versus the approximately 27-million people receiving grants currently. 9.2 million of these are monthly R350 SRD grant recipients. If you minus SRD beneficiaries, the number of SASSA Social Grants disbursed will increase from 18.8 million currently, to 19.7 million in 2026/27.
INCREASES ACROSS THE BOARD
Moreover, the two most important grants are child support and old age, which make up 64.9% of total grant expenditure. Accordingly, old age, war veterans, disability and care dependency grant will all by R100 by the time 1 October 2024 rolls around. Foster care increases by R50 and child support by R20 in April 2024.
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