Grant-in-Aid is the extra social benefit granted by SASSA (South African Social Security Agency) intended for those other grant recipients in need of further assistance. This top-up is meant for holding up a few of the greater burdens that vulnerable households bear, especially those with older persons, persons with disabilities, or caregivers who need some modest additional funding. With effect from April 2025, the monthly payout for Grant-in-Aid was increased from R530 to R560.
October 2025 Payment Date & Schedule
According to the published payment schedule for October 2025, the Grant-in-Aid will follow the payout schedule for child and “other” grants, i.e., Monday, 6 October 2025. On that day, beneficiaries of Grant-in-Aid, payments from Child Support, Foster Care, and other related grants will have to be increased to R560. Payouts, however, differ according to grant categories: Older Persons grants on 2 October, Disability on 3 October, and then the batch with Grant-in-Aid on 6 October.
Payments are made out in series, so deposits may not be received by all beneficiaries on 6 October, strictly speaking, with bank processing, verification, or technical delays shifting the exact deposit by one or two business days.
Who is Eligible for Grant-in-Aid?
Generally, eligibility for the Grant-in-Aid assumes that the persons concerned are already beneficiaries of a principal grant (Old Age, Disability, etc.) and that further assistance is warranted due to additional expenses. The grant in aid is usually supplementary. The increase to R560 brings it in line with the newly adjusted amounts of other grants in 2025.
In fact, Grant-in-Aid is not granted automatically to all principal-grant recipients-the authorities consider extra need based on…condition-dependent upon health, dependency, disability, or burden of care.
What Beneficiaries Must Do
- Check grant status – make sure that their principal grant is indeed active and in good standing.
- Check Bank Details/Payment Information – outdated or incorrect bank details could lead to late payment of the top-up.
- Keep the 6 October window open – pay attention around this date for payment.
- Have some patience – though October 6 is the official date, crediting might just as well happen a little after.
- Should you not see that amount reflected in your account, follow up with your local SASSA office, or contact official helplines.
The Impact of This Increase
The leap to R560 aids in bringing the Grant-in-Aid closer to other social grants so that vulnerable recipients may avail themselves of more meaningful support. Although incremented modestly, it does bear witness to the ongoing struggle to index social assistance for inflation and sudden living costs. Grant-in-Aid recipients ought to be beneficiaries of this increase, alongside child and other social grants, from the October 2025-payments milestone.
Also Read: SASSA Pension Hike 2025: Old Age Grant Raised In October, Updated Amounts & Dates