SASSA grant increases in April: What you need to know
The SASSA grant increases in April are expected to bring much needed assistance to the millions of South Africans who rely on them.
Announced at the Finance Minister’s February budget speech, SASSA grant increases in April 2024 will be a game-changer for South Africa’s neediest citizens. Currently, the South African Social Security Agency disburses 18 million grants each month of varying quantities. There are an estimated 4 million old-age pensioners, 13 million childcare and 1 million disability grant recipients monthly.
SASSA GRANT INCREASES IN APRIL 2024
The good news for SASSA grant increases in April 2024 is that the National Treasury has adjusted them to meet annual inflation. This means incremental increases across the board which may not sound like much but are significant for those living anywhere between the food poverty line R776 per month and upper poverty line of R1 558 p/m, according to the Social Poverty Initiative.
These are your SASSA grant amounts, plus additional increases (where applicable) in October 2024:
| Grant | April 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 (4.7%) |
| Foster Care | R1 180 | – | R50 (4.4%) |
| Child Support | 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 these increased grants.
HOW SASSA GRANTS COMPARE
With SASSA grant increases in April 2024 upping the stipends for those in need, we wanted to compare South African old-age pension to other state pensions in Africa. Our findings were very encouraging. Many government pensions make use of a percentage of wages earned, so are not really comparable to our means-tested system.
Nevertheless, according to our research, South Africa’s is the second highest on the continent after Zambia which pays R3 930 per month. South Africa pays R2 200 p/m (from April). Mauritius (R2 057 p/m) is third, Seychelles fourth (R1 196 p/m) and Namibia rounds out the top five (R1 100 p/m) on the continent.
SASSA PAYMENT DATES TILL YEAREND
Better still, along with SASSA grant increases in April 2024, the agency released payment dates for the rest of the year, too. They run as follows:
APRIL 2024
- Older Persons Grants: Wednesday 3 April 2024.
- Disability Grants: Thursday 4 April 2024.
- Children’s Grants: Friday 5 April 2024.
MAY 2024
- Older Persons Grants: Friday 3 May 2024.
- Disability Grants: Monday 6 May 2024.
- Children’s Grants: Tuesday 7 May 2024.
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.
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.