SASSA payment dates for May 2025: Could the VAT freeze impact increases?
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has confirmed the social grant payment dates for May 2025.
SASSA distributes social grants to millions of beneficiaries in South Africa. Beneficiaries can receive payments from selected supermarkets, such as Pick n Pay, Boxer, USave merchants, Checkers, and Shoprite. They can obtain this through their SASSA card, CashSend, or by getting the amount directly transferred into their bank account.
The payment schedule is as follows:
Old age grant – 6 May 2025
Disability grant – 7 May 2025
Child support grant and others – 9 May 2025
COULD SOCIAL GRANTS INCREASES ALSO BE REVERSED?
In his delayed Budget Speech, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said to 'cushion' the poor against the proposed VAT increase, social grants were allocated R284.7 billion in 2025-2026, and this was effective from 1 April. However, on Thursday, 25 April, National Treasury confirmed that the decision to increase VAT from 15% to 15.5% has been reversed. What does this mean for the increases to social grants announced during the 2025 Budget Speech?
National Treasury said the decision not to increase VAT meant that the measures to cushion lower income households against the potential negative impact of the VAT hike now need to be withdrawn and other expenditure decisions revisited.
'To offset the unavoidable expenditure adjustments, any additional revenue collected by SARS [South African Revenue Service] may be considered for this purpose going forward.'
SASSA GOLD CARDS REMAIN VALID
Meanwhile, SASSA has confirmed that the gold cards remain valid following a directive issued by the South African Reserve Bank (SARB).
Additionally, the issuing of the Postbank black cards has been suspended indefinitely, and card replacement sites across the country are no longer operational.
As previously reported, the deadline for the SASSA-issued gold cards was initially set for 31 December 2023. However, it was postponed to December 2024 and later to 28 February 2025, which was also extended to 31 May. Many beneficiaries reportedly had not yet switched to the new Postbank black cards.
Portfolio Committee on Social Development chairperson Bridget Masango said the SARB instructed Postbank, with the guidance of SASSA, to ensure that beneficiaries who have not yet migrated to the black cards can use their gold cards and receive their grants and that there is minimal disruption while they are moving to alternative sources, such as their bank of choice.
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