SASSA Social Grants Increase October 2024
The South African Government has increased the SASSA Grants for the second time in 2024. According to the budget speech of Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana on Wednesday, February 21st, 2024, in Cape Town, the increment in the social grants is planned to happen in October and April 2024.
In October 2024, the amount of Old Age, Disability, War Veterans, and Care Dependency Grants increased by R10. There will be no increase in the Child Support, Foster Child, and SRD R350 Grant this month.
I will explain the complete details of these grant increments, grant budget allocation, and other information for the SASSA grant increase in October 2024. Let’s go through the blog.
Why is it Crucial to Increase SASSA Social Grants?
The increase in SASSA grants in April and October 2024 matters because it supports nearly 18.8 million individuals (Excluding SRD Grant beneficiaries) for their necessities. With the rising inflation, they will maintain their purchasing power.
Similarly, the grant increase will improve the spending powers of recipients. It will ultimately improve the economy. Moreover, the rise in grants will reduce economic inequality and maintain social stability in the country.
A Complete Detail of SASSA Social Grant Increase in October 2024
Considering the reasons mentioned above, the South African government has increased SASSA grants by the following amounts:
October 2024 Increase in SASSA Old Age Grant (60 to 75)
At the start of 2024, the SASSA Old Age Grant was R2090. Until October, it has increased to R2190 with the addition of R100(4.8%). This grant increase has taken place in two steps:
Old Age Grant Increase for Individuals aged 75 and above
In March 2024, the Old Age Grant for Age 75 and Over was R2110. It is R2210 after an increase of R10 in October and R90 in April, with a total increment of R100 (4.7%) in 2024.
SASSA Disability Grant Increase October 2024
The Disability grant has also been raised by R100 (4.8%) in 2024. It was R2090 in March 2024 and became R2180 with an R90 increment in April 2024. It was further added R10 in October to become R2190.
Increment in SASSA Care Dependency Grant in 2024
The Care Dependency Grant increased from R2,090 to R2,190 in 2024 with two increments. One was R90 in April, and the other was R10 in October 2024, with a total increase of R100 (4.8%).
SASSA War Veteran’s Grant Increase in 2024
There was an R100 (4.8%) increase in the War Veteran’s Grant in 2024 that took place in two parts:
Rise in SASSA Child Support Grant in 2024
The Child Support Grant stayed the same in October 2024. However, it was increased in April by R 20 (3.9%), turning it from R510 to R530.
Additionally, the children’s top-up amount will be unchanged at R250.So, the total Child Support Grant, including the top-up amount, will be R780.
SASSA Foster Child Grant Increase in October 2024
Similarly, the Foster Child Grant amount remains unchanged in October 2024. It was raised in April 2024 by an R50 (4.4%), increasing it from R1130 to R1180.
October 2024 Increase in SRD 370 Grant
There will be no increment in the SRD 370 grant in October 2024. It was raised for the first time since its launch in April 2024 from R350 to R370, with an increase of R20 (5.7%).
A Detailed Table of SASSA Grant Increase in 2024
You can see a summary of all the grant increases starting from March 2024 to October 2024 with the total increases amount mentioned in the last column of this table:
| Grant | March 2024 | April 2024 | October 2024 | Total Increase |
| Old Age Grant (60 to 75) | R2,090 | R2,180 | R2,190 | R100 (4.8%) |
| Old Age Grant (75 & Above) | R2,110 | R2,200 | R2,210 | R100 (4.7%) |
| Disability Grant | R2,090 | R2,180 | R2,190 | R100 (4.8%) |
| Child Support Grant | R510 | R530 | – | R20 (3.9%) |
| War Veterans Grant | R2,110 | R2,200 | R2,210 | R100 (4.7%) |
| Care Dependency Grant | R2,090 | R2,180 | R2,190 | R100 (4.8%) |
| Foster Child Grant | R1,130 | R1,180 | – | R50 (4.4%) |
| SRD R350 Grant | R350 | R370 | – | R20 (5.7%) |
What is the Budget for SASSA Social Grants for 2023/24- 2025/26?
The South African Government has allocated R1.17 trillion for Social Grants and other Welfare activities under the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF). The SASSA grants make up 81.8 percent of this program.
What is the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF)?
It is a tool to prioritize the budget allocations for different policy options to manage expenditures and make wise policy decisions for a medium period.
What is the Budget Allocation for Social Grants?
Under the (MTEF) the National Treasury has allocated R217.1 billion in 2023/24 and R259.3 billion in 2026/27 for the Social grants.
Out of this budget, the child support and old age grants will take around 64.9 %. The government separately allocated a budget of R 33.6 billion for the COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant.
Note: The budget allocation for the SRD grant is only up to March 2025. After that period, the budget allocation depends on the government’s decision.
Conclusion
So, the October 2024 SASSA grant increase provides modest boosts to key grants like Old Age, Disability, War Veterans, and Care Dependency, each rising by R10. However, the Child Support, Foster Child, and SRD R350 grants remain unchanged this month. These increments reflect the government’s ongoing support amidst economic challenges, aiming to help recipients better manage daily expenses and contribute to the nation’s stability.
