After three weeks of consternation, increases for SASSA Old Age grants in April 2025 are far higher than many experts had anticipated. The R130 increase (5.9%) announced by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana ensures that SASSA Old Age grants in April 2025 will beat inflation and take the edge off a 0.5% VAT increase across the board this year.
Better still for the country’s 4-million elderly grant recipients, government committed to R8.2 billion for SASSA grants over the next three years to help cushion the poor from high cost of living, reports TimesLive. This great news follows the unprecedented postponement of February’s Budget Speech, which had South African Social Security Agency beneficiaries expecting the worst about their stipends …
SASSA OLD AGE GRANTS IN APRIL 2025
However, while the increase to SASSA Old Age grants in April 2025 is higher than anticipated, the agency is still to announce official payment dates with less than three weeks to go to disbursement. Another bittersweet outcome for many old-age pensioners who’ve been caught up in the disastrous SASSA/Postbank card migration.
At last count, only 1.3-million out of 3-million affected SASSA beneficiaries had their cards successfully transferred. The extended deadline is next week Thursday 20 March 2025 and we wait to see how the Department of Social Development (DSD) will rectify the backlog in time. Even if your gold card stops working, your SASSA Old Age grants in April 2025 will be paid. Drawing the funds will just be trickier until you migrate cards or change to a conventional bank account instead.
ABOVE-INFLATION INCREASES
Nevertheless, perhaps a crumb of comfort for the elderly will be confirmation of SASSA Old Age grants in April 2025. 60-to-74-year olds will receive R2 310 and over 75s will receive R2 330. Likewise, those with disability support will receive R2 310, and War Veterans the higher R2 330. As mentioned, the above-inflation increase is one percentage point higher than last years’ miserly 4.9%. Even though they are R5 lower than quoted by the National Treasury.
However, there is still some alarm, because after the Budget Speech presentation, cabinet still has to hear contrary arguments by members of the GNU. For example, DA leader John Steenhuisen said immediately after the minister’s address that his party would not be supporting it. Whether this will impact the delivery of increased SASSA Old Age Grants in April 2025 remains to be seen.
HOW TO QUALIFY FOR A SASSA GRANT
While dates for SASSA Old Age grants in April 2025 have not been confirmed, we suspect they will take place on Tuesday 1 April 2025. And here’s everything you need know to secure yours when you are eligible:
- Old-age benefits only apply to residents 60 years or older.
- Grants are asset and means tested. Therefore, when you apply, you must prove you’re sufficiently underprivileged to qualify.
- Applications can take upwards of three months to be processed. However, if successful, your first payment will include backdated funds to the time of your application.
- There are no online application forms. All transactions must be done in-person at a SASSA branch or office.
- Currently there are terrible queues, so we’d recommend making an appointment online first. Click HERE and follow the prompts.
BRING THESE DOCS WITH TO SASSA
When you arrive for your interview to secure SASSA Old Age grants in April 2025, have the following ready for an agent:
- Marriage certificate proving your marital status (if applicable).
- Proof of residence (a utility bill with your name on it, not older than three months).
- Official bar-coded ID – smart card or green booklet.
- Confirmation of proof of income/financial dividends.
- Information regarding your assets/valuation of property.
- Declaration of private pension (if applicable).
- Valid three months’ statements certified by your bank (not older than three-months’ old).
- Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) membership book, or discharge certificate from your previous job.
- Copy of your will, first and final liquidation and distribution accounts if your spouse has passed away in the last five years.
Note that the agency does allow a family member or friend to help you with your application. Simply provide them with a letter from your doctor explaining why you cannot attend the application personally. Plus, the above documentation must be taken to a police station and certified by a commissioner of oaths.
THRESHOLD FOR ASSET AND MEANS TEST
Crucially, SASSA Old Age grants in April 2025 depend on clients meeting the relevant income and asset limits for government social welfare. They are as follows:
- R8 070 per month (R96 840 per year) income if single.
- R16 140 per month (R193 680 per year) income if married.
- Total value of assets R1 372 800 if single.
- Total value of assets R2 745 600 if married.
If your application is denied, you have 90 days to appeal the decision with the DSD by clicking HERE. Note that, once approved, SASSA does have the right to review your grant status occasionally. However, the agency must give you three-months’ notice in writing beforehand.
AGENCY CONTACT LIST
Because the agency is terribly overworked assisting Postbank clients, you will have to be patient when contacting them:
- SASSA toll-free line: 0800 601 011
- Head Office of SASSA: 012 400 2322
- USSD Postbank: *120*218*3#
- Email SASSA: [email protected]
- Or email: [email protected]
- WhatsApp SASSA: 082 046 8553
DO YOU THINK THESE GRANT INCREASES ARE ENOUGH?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
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