Latest news with #SASSAChildSupportGrant
The South African
4 days ago
- Health
- The South African
The forgotten social grant: 2025 SASSA Grant-in-Aid
2025 SASSA Grant-in-Aid is a stipend like no other offered by the South African Social Security Agency. As the name suggests, it is paid in addition to a beneficiary's existing government grant. So, who is eligible for 2025 SASSA Grant-in-Aid, how much does it pay, and how can you go about securing it? Well, 2025 SASSA Grant-in-Aid is provided only to the neediest SASSA recipients. Therefore, it is only available to Disability, Older Persons, Care Dependency and War Veterans grant beneficiaries. Here's how to know if you qualify and how you can secure the extra monthly stipend … The High Court ruled earlier this year that SASSA cannot excluded beneficiaries on grounds of 'insufficient budget.' Image: File As such, the South African Social Security Agency makes 2025 SASSA Grant-in-Aid available only to those who require full-time, at-home care. Therefore, the additional money paid out to you is meant to fund care services at your home. After the increases of April this year, 2025 SASSA Grant-in-Aid pays out R560. This makes it the same as SASSA Child Support Grant, which is paid out to more than 14-million residents. Previously, the additional grant paid out R530. However, a valid question is whether the 2025 SASSA Grant-in-Aid amount is even sufficient to provide worthwhile in-home care. What carer will work full-time for R560? To be approved for 2025 SASSA Grant-in-Aid you must already be a 'core' grant recipient. And in the eyes of the state, you must be unable to care for yourself fully, so as to require at-home care. While SASSA is making every effort to verify the identities of all its clients, so people don't take advantage of the scheme, how does it verify 2025 SASSA Grant-in-Aid exactly? If you believe you need the additional money, you must go consult with a private or government doctor. And they must supply you with a medical assessment stating you need full-time care from SASSA. Note that the report cannot be older than three months when you contact SASSA for the grant. And you will be excluded if you receive care in any sort of state-run care facility. Grant pay dates till March 2026. Image: SASSA The agency has released a full list of remaining payment dates for all grants till March 2026. Depending on which grant you receive, be sure to diarise the dates above, so you're never caught short. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
09-05-2025
- Business
- The South African
SASSA pension grants will NOT be doubled, confirms department
The Department of Social Development (DSD) has confirmed that SASSA pension grants will not be doubled. In fact, speaking before the Parliamentary portfolio committee on social development this week, the department said it is 'between a rock and a hard place' on social grants. Referring to the still-unapproved 2025 Budget, the DSD was responding to calls for SASSA pension grants to be doubled. Or at the very least increased again in 2025. As part of the committee meeting, SASSA pension grant advocate Riyad Isaac explained that the current grant amount was not enough to combat rising living costs in South Africa … Furthermore, the DSD overseas the South African Social Security Agency, which is tasked with disbursing social welfare to nearly 45% of the population. Nevertheless, there is still confusion over whether above-inflation grant increases in 2025 will remain or be overturned under a new budget. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana must convince parliament for a third time of his budget intentions. However, he famously said he was only proposing a VAT increase in 2025 to help pay for the ever-increasing social welfare contribution. This has led to wide-scale conjecture that suspended SASSA accounts in May are an attempt to claw money back. After a five-week gap, SASSA pension grants were paid this week. Image: File Nevertheless, even with the above-inflation increases approved in April 2025, beneficiaries of SASSA pension grants are not happy. 'I understand pensioners are now getting R2 310 (and R2 330 for over 75s) but it's nowhere near enough to survive. My heart goes out to all the over 60s. Remember, they are the backbone of society,' said Isaac in front of parliament. 'Some might have a pension, which is lucrative. But the majority of people are not that fortunate. Many live below the poverty line and struggle to make ends meet. R2 310 is not nearly enough if you look at the rates and rental they have to pay. There is no way we should allow pensioners to survive on only that amount,' Isaac concluded. In response, DSD acting chief director, Dr. Maureen Mogotsi said she sympathised, but said it would not be feasible to double SASSA pension grants. Of the roughly 19-million 'core' grants paid monthly, 4 million are SASSA pension grants. She said R285 billion has already been allocated to the social grants for the 2025/26 financial year. And because SASSA pension grants are already the highest paid among all grants, it makes it difficult to argue for an increase, let alone doubling, explained Mogotsi. 'It (Older Person grants) already exceeds the upper poverty line. While, in contrast, the R560 SASSA Child Support Grant is below the food poverty line, even though child poverty is higher than adult poverty. You see, we are between a rock and a hard place. Who should we consider first? It's simply not possible for us to double SASSA pension grants,' Mogotsi concluded. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
