ADJUSTED: SASSA social grants post 2024 budget speech

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.

TRENDING: UPDATED: Latest on old-age pension grants March 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%)	–

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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.

ALSO READ: Necessary SASSA info for old-age grant recipients February 2024

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.

NEXT READ: Big news for Sassa beneficiaries: R350 grant will be improved – Ramaphosa

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