The year 2025 is seeing a lot of calls and speculative reports that SASSA might be increasing old-age pension grant by R5,000 per each beneficiary per month. This hike is being considered to relieve the elderly from the harsh effects of inflation in the costs of living, food, energy and healthcare. Though not yet officially announced, this proposed increase has stirred a lot of public curiosity and speculations.
Who Might Be Qualifying for the R5,000 Increase?
If this increase gets approved, then the following categories are likely to benefit from it:
- Older Persons (60+ years): Persons 60 years and above receiving Older Person’s Grant may have their monthly grant increased to cover that extra R5,000.
- Persons 75 years and above: Since SASSA pays relatively somewhat higher rates for the old-old category, those above 75 could possibly get more.
- Permanent residents, citizens, and refugees living in South Africa who qualify by means test, i.e. those with incomes and assets falling below prescribed SASSA levels.
- Persons not receiving other major grants for themselves. The grant system typically expects the beneficiary not to have any other large overlapping government grant.
Eligibility Criteria & Means Test
Applicants must qualify for any increase in the pension grant by meeting standard SASSA conditions:
- Those whose age would be 60 years or more. Permanent residents or citizens (or legally recognised refugees) residing in South Africa.
- Not residing in any state institution.
- Income and asset tests: For a single client, both income and total assets should be respectively beneath certain levels (as provided for in the rule for an older-persons grant). If married, the assessment is of combined income and assets.
- Applicants have to provide identification and proof of income or assets, even if declared to be zero.
These conditions resemble the typical eligibility criteria of the Older Persons Grant. For example, an applicant for such a grant must have an annual income lower than R86 280, and assets usually below approximately R1 227 600.
What This Boost Would Mean in Practice
If the increase is approved:
- Pensioners would receive a steep increase in their monthly support, thus partly cushioning against inflation and increasing cost of living.
- The boost would come in handy for instance with pensioners who have medical needs and therefore higher costs of healthcare.
- The payments may still be done according to SASSA’s regular payout schedule, which grants older persons grants towards the beginning of each month.
Caveats & Next Steps
Though a fiver-thousand increase in the pension seems favorable at first glance, there are just a few things to watch out for:
- Official confirmation: As yet there remains no official statement about the increase from SASSA or the Department of Social Development.
- Budgetary implications: A large boost in pensions would force an enormous allocation in that regard by government.
- Implementation: Even if approved, the roll-out might be done in stages, so grant recipients will need to ensure that their details (banking, identification, address) are up to date.
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