SASSA grants post this year’s budget speech
While not as radical as many in civil society anticipated, SASSA social grants post 2024 budget will payout the following.
While not as radical as many in civil society anticipated, SASSA social grants post 2024 budget will payout the following. SASSA old age, war veterans, disability and care dependency grants will increase by R90 this April. And again by R10 from October 2024.
These were announced by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana in yesterday’s (21 February) budget speech. Accordingly, the South African Social Security Agency older persons grant goes up by R100 in 2024. As reported by GroundUp, SASSA old-age pensioners will rise by R90 in April 2024, and again by R10 from October 2024.
SASSA SOCIAL GRANTS POST 2024 BUDGET
| Grant | Current | April 2024 | October 2024 | Increase | No. of Beneficiaries |
| Old Age (60 years) | R2 090 | R2 180 | R2 190 | R100 (4.8%) | – |
| Old Age (75 years) | R2 110 | R2 200 | R2 210 | R100 (4.7%) | 3 999 326 (total) |
| Foster Care | R1 130 | R1 180 | – | R50 (4.4%) | 222 317 |
| Child Support | R510 | R530 | – | R20 (3.9%) | 13 067 314 |
| Disability | R2 090 | R2 180 | R2 190 | R100 (4.8%) | 1 065 838 |
| Care Dependency | R2 090 | R2 180 | R2 190 | R100 (4.8%) | – |
MUST READ: Did cadre deployment cripple SOE’s?
ELECTION YEAR
The timing of April increases to SASSA social grants post 2024 budget will suit the African National Congress (ANC). Timed ahead of the Wednesday 29 May elections, Godongwana insisted the interim increase was so grants kept pace with inflation. “We are sensitive to the increase in the cost of living for the nearly 19-million South Africans who rely on SASSA grants,” said Godongwana.
Interestingly, despite President Ramaphosa’s SONA claims of an improved SRD grant, government aims to wind-down Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress in 2025. In ceasing the R350 monthly disbursement, the total social welfare budget will drop to R248 billion. “This termination will see a reduction in the total number of grant recipients from 27.8 million in 2023/24, to 19.7 million in 2026/27,” concluded the minister.
ALSO READ: ANC laughs off MK Party’s two-thirds majority ambitions