Johannesburg – While the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has officially confirmed the May 2025 grant payment dates, beneficiaries, particularly those relying on Old-Age Grants, are bracing for a challenging month due to a confluence of factors creating what some are calling a "triple trouble" scenario.
Despite SASSA's assurance that all disbursements will be made on time, several issues are converging to put significant financial strain on grant recipients.
Here's a breakdown of the challenges:
Delayed Payment Date
- The Old Age Grant, traditionally paid on the first Tuesday of each month, will be disbursed on Tuesday, 6 May 2025. This is the last possible date and results in a longer than usual five-week gap between payments.
- This delay has sparked concern among beneficiaries, who are questioning why SASSA can't revert to paying grants on the 1st of the month as was the practice before the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The extended gap is particularly problematic as it follows the April holiday period, which includes Easter, Freedom Day, and Worker's Day, placing extra strain on household budgets.
Ongoing Postbank Card Migration
- SASSA is still dealing with the Postbank card migration. Although the deadline has been extended to the end of May 2025, affected clients are still required to queue for long periods to obtain their new cards.
- This process creates additional burdens for beneficiaries, particularly the elderly and those with disabilities, who may struggle with long queues and logistical challenges.
Increased Cost of Living
- The May grant payments will coincide with the full impact of South Africa's VAT increase and Eskom tariff hikes.
- The VAT rate increased from 15% to 15.5% on May 1, 2025. A further increase to 16% is scheduled for April 1, 2026.
- Eskom direct customers saw a tariff increase of 12.74% effective April 1, 2025, while tariffs for municipal bulk purchases will increase by 11.32% effective July 1, 2025.
- Economists predict that the above-inflation (5.9%) SASSA grant increases implemented in April 2025 have already been negated by the sharp rise in the cost of living due to these increases.
Official Payment Dates and SASSA Advice
Despite these challenges, SASSA has officially confirmed the grant payment dates for May 2025:
- Old Age Grant: May 3, 2025
- Disability Grant: May 6, 2025
- Child Support Grant: May 7, 2025
SASSA has issued the following advice to beneficiaries:
- "If you’re facing any problem with your application or have an expired SASSA card, fix it before payment dates or you’ll face a problem receiving your payment."
- "Try to visit your ATM to receive money after one day of disbursal, because on the day of disbursal, you’ll likely face traffic on ATMs."
SASSA Grant Eligibility and Means Test
SASSA is required by the National Treasury to enforce income and asset limits to ensure that grants are allocated to those who are most in need.
The current income and asset limits are:
- Income:
- R8 070 per month (R96 840 per year) if single.
- R16 140 per month (R193 680 per year) if married.
- Assets:
- Total assets of R1 372 800 if single.
- Total assets of R2 745 600 if married.
SASSA can review your grant status at any time to ensure that you have not misrepresented yourself and that your financial circumstances have not improved since you applied. However, SASSA must provide three months' notice in writing before conducting a review.
Contacting SASSA
SASSA is currently facing challenges due to being overworked and understaffed. However, for any queries, you can try the following:
- SASSA toll-free line: 0800 601 011
- Head Office of SASSA: 012 400 2322
- Email SASSA: grantsenquiries@sassa.gov.za
The combination of delayed payments, card migration issues, and rising living costs presents a significant challenge for SASSA Old-Age Grant recipients in May. It is crucial for beneficiaries to manage their finances carefully and to seek assistance from SASSA if they encounter any problems.
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