Posted by Siseko Tapile
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South Africans relying on SASSA grants are about to see some real changes hit their wallets—and routines. Starting May 2025, SASSA’s updates directly affect millions: from the numbers written on their payment slips to the cards in their pockets. If you count on a government pension or support, or you help someone who does, it’s time to pay attention. Here’s the breakdown on what’s changing, who gets what, and what you have to do next.
The first thing you’ll notice? More money for core grants. The Old Age Grant, Disability Grant, and Care Dependency Grant now all pay out R3,070 a month—a welcome boost for households feeling the bite from food and transport prices. War veterans see a slightly higher increase, nudging their grant up to R3,090. For parents, the Child Support Grant stays steady at R530, while those on the SRD Grant will continue to get R370. The intention is simple: offer a little more buying power against inflation, even if increases like these often get eaten up by rising essentials.
The extra cash is just the start. SASSA has flagged another upcoming increase—a further R10 monthly top-up for seniors aged 75 and older, planned for October 2025. It’s not a massive jump, but for the most vulnerable, every rand matters.
Here’s the new monthly breakdown for key SASSA grants as of May 2025:
No changes were announced for Foster Child Grants or other smaller schemes in this announcement, so those values currently remain unchanged.
This year, there’s a big shakeup in how—and when—you get your money. SASSA’s payment dates are now staggered, so crowds at pay points should thin out a bit. If you’re in line for an Older Persons Grant, your pay runs from the 6th of May. Disability Grants follow on the 7th, and Children’s Grants wrap it up on the 8th. Anyone using a SASSA card, getting funds in a bank account or through a mobile wallet, follows these same dates. If you can’t get to your funds immediately, don’t worry—uncollected grant money stays available for you to withdraw later.
The other headline? The end of the SASSA Gold Card. After years in wide use, these cards expire for good on February 28, 2025. Anyone still hanging onto a Gold Card needs a new plan or risks missing out on their grant. The options: switch to the Postbank Black Card or arrange to have the payments go straight into your personal bank account.
Plenty of folks haven’t made the switch yet. If you’ve been putting it off, February isn’t far away—and Postbank officials are expecting a rush at the last minute. For now, both cards work, but ignoring the deadline could mean no cash in March and beyond.
Not sure what you need to do? Here’s a simple checklist for SASSA payment changes:
Applying for a new SASSA grant? Be prepared for in-person visits. You’ll need a valid South African ID, proof of residence, income details, and other supporting documents. Remote or online submissions aren’t an option—SASSA wants to verify applicants directly, hoping to cut down on fraud and errors.
SASSA’s May 2025 changes may look like a wallet boost, but they also mean more paperwork, planning, and a fresh card for nearly everyone. If you want your grant to keep flowing, it pays to get ahead now—before new queues form at the post office and the bank.