Sassa grant increases and SRD extension in ‘Budget 3.0’: What you need to know

Budget 3.0 will not impact the planned increases to all South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) social grants.
This assurance comes after Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana delivered his third budget speech on Wednesday in Cape Town.

According to the National Treasury’s 2025 budget overview, the number of social grant beneficiaries, excluding those receiving the social relief of distress (SRD) grant, is projected to increase to 19.3 million people by March 2028.

Grant increases

The grant increases for 2025/26 are as follows:

• Old age grant will increase from R2185 to R2315
• War veterans’ grant will increase from R2205 to R2335
• Disability grant will go up from R2185 to R2315
• Foster care grant rises from R1180 to R1250
• Care dependency grant will increase from R2185 to R2315
• Child support grant will go up from R530 to R560
• The grant-in-aid will increase from R530 to R560

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‘Employment opportunities’

The increase in the social grants budget of R1.6 billion in 2025/26 will remain.

“The temporary Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress grant will be extended until 31 March 2026, with R35.2 billion allocated to maintain the current R370 per month per beneficiary, including administration costs,” National Treasury said.

Godongwana said the government is “actively exploring various options to better integrate” the SRD grant with employment opportunities.

“This includes considering a job-seeker allowance and other measures, as part of the review of Active Labour Market Programmes.

“Our goal is to not only provide immediate relief. It is also to create pathways to employment, empowering our citizens to build better futures for themselves and their families,” the minister added.

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Sassa SRD payout dates

The payment of the R370 grant usually takes place at the end of every month from the 25th.

The agency’s grant payment department, however, does not pay grants on public holidays or weekends, and with the 25th of May being a Sunday, grants will be paid earlier.

Sassa spokesperson Andile Tshona confirmed to The Citizen that this month’s SRD grant payment will be processed from 23 to 28 May.

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