SASSA money for Christmas presents?

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) administrates millions of social grants to South Africans in need, including the Older Persons (Pensioners) Grant and the R350 SRD Grant.

If you receive some of the available social grants, then SASSA is responsible for supplementing or providing your income.

How many South Africans are using their December social grant money for Christmas presents this year?

Here’s more about the social grant system, and how it impacts the festive season for millions of people in the country this holiday.

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SASSA MONEY FOR CHRISTMAS PRESENTS

Social grant payments are for South Africans who need to supplement their income with state help, whether it is the Childcare Grant, the Older Persons (Pensioners) Grant, or the In-Aid Grant that allows someone to pay for the services of a professional carer from their social grant.

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But when it comes to what South Africans might spend their social grant money on, the answer might include more than just food or money to scan your CV at an internet cafe.

Many South Africans are spending at least some of their SASSA money on Christmas presents this year, even though they might not have much to spend.

DECEMBER SASSA GRANT PAYMENTS

SASSA grant payments for the month of December will begin on the first of the month, with the Older Persons/Pensioners Grant the first to pay to receipients.

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Social grant payments commence the same week, with other grant recipients including the R350-SRD payments expected from 5 and 6 December.

If you have not been approved for payment, you have one-month from your rejection to ask for reassessment.

SASSA GRANTS AND HOW THEY ARE SPENT

Social grants can be spent in any way the recipient sees fit, including buying a Christmas present for someone in the family.

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As long as a SASSA social grant is being used by its rightful recipient, there is nobody who can stipulate how it must be spent (or on what).

Many South Africans might face a dry December, however, as grant payments have not increased significantly for several years in a row.

TELL US YOUR STORY

We want to know your social grant stories.

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Contact us at info@thesouthafrican.com; alternatively you can send us a WhatsApp message on +27 60 011 0211 to tell us what you have used your social grant money on – or what you may spend it on this year.