SASSA: Uncertain OUTLOOK for May 2024 grants
Rising cost of living and the upcoming elections provide a bleak outlook for May 2024 SASSA grants. Here’s why beneficiaries should save.
Any of the 28-million South African Social Security Agency beneficiaries looking forward to their May 2024 SASSA grants should consider their finances carefully. While many will have welcomed April 2024’s 4.8% grant increases across the board, fuel and electricity prices saw another consecutive-month increase simultaneously. This means grant recipients will effectively be out of pocket for their May 2024 SASSA grants.
BLEAK OUTLOOK FOR MAY 2024 SASSA GRANTS
May 2024 SASSA grants will pay 4.8% more than they did in March 2024. However, electricity is 12.8% more expensive. Experts say that an average-sized home (using 900 kWh) will cost between R3 000 and R3 600 per month to stay powered up. Making the May 2024 SASSA grants a drop in the ocean compared to the rising costs Mzansi’s most vulnerable citizens face monthly.
Moreover, according to the latest figures from Stats SA, consumer price inflation (CPI) was 5.3% in January 2024. So, despite the government’s want to increase social welfare in line with inflation, it’s still some ways behind. As Mzansi heads into the colder months of autumn and winter, things are only going to get tougher.
NEXT SOCIAL GRANT PAYMENT DATES
The pay dates for May 2024 SASSA grants fall just after the Wednesday 1 May Worker’s Day public holiday. They are spread over two weeks – the first and second weeks of May – and are as follows:
- Older Persons Grants: Friday 3 May 2024.
- Disability Grants: Monday 6 May 2024.
- Children’s Grants: Tuesday 7 May 2024.
And here’s what all May 2024 SASSA grants will pay for the 4-million old-age pensioners, 13-million child support and 1-million disability beneficiaries.
| Grant | May 2024 | October 2024 | Total increase in 2024 |
| Old Age (60 years) | R2 180 | R2 190 | R100 (4.8%) |
| Old Age (75 years) | R2 200 | R2 210 | R100 (4.8%) |
| Foster Care | R1 180 | R1 180 | R50 (4.4%) |
| Child Support | R530 | R530 | R20 (3.9%) |
| Disability | R2 180 | R2 190 | R100 (4.8%) |
| Care Dependency | R2 180 | R2 190 | R100 (4.8%) |
*Note that you do not need to reapply to receive any of the above increased SASSA grants.
Looking ahead for the rest of the year, you can diarise the following SASSA grant payment dates while you’re at it:
JUNE 2024
- Older Persons Grants: Tuesday 4 June 2024.
- Disability Grants: Wednesday 5 June 2024.
- Children’s Grants: Thursday 6 June 2024.
JULY 2024
- Older Persons Grants: Tuesday 2 July 2024.
- Disability Grants: Wednesday 3 July 2024.
- Children’s Grants: Thursday 4 July 2024.
AUGUST 2024
- Older Persons Grants: Friday 2 August 2024.
- Disability Grants: Monday 5 August 2024.
- Children’s Grants: Tuesday 6 August 2024.
SEPTEMBER 2024
- Older Persons Grants: Tuesday 3 September 2024.
- Disability Grants: Wednesday 4 September 2024.
- Children’s Grants: Thursday 5 September 2024.
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OCTOBER 2024
- Older Persons Grants: Wednesday 2 October 2024.
- Disability Grants: Thursday 3 October 2024.
- Children’s Grants: Friday 4 October 2024.
NOVEMBER 2024
- Older Persons Grants: Tuesday 5 November 2024.
- Disability Grants: Wednesday 6 November 2024.
- Children’s Grants: Thursday 7 November 2024.
DECEMBER 2024
- Older Persons Grants: Tuesday 3 December 2024.
- Disability Grants: Wednesday 4 December 2024.
- Children’s Grants: Thursday 5 December 2024.
FOR ANY SASSA ENQUIRIES
- Toll-Free Call: 0800 60 10 11
- SASSA Head Office: 012 400 2322
- Email: grantsenquiries@sassa.gov.za
- You can even contact the president’s office with your complaint: president@presidency.gov.za