Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana announced that social grants will increase in 2024. Almost all the grants distributed by the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) are set to increase to keep pace with inflation and improve access for eligible recipients,
The minister made this revelation during the 2024 National Budget Speech. The budget speech was delivered on Wednesday at the City Hall in Cape Town.
We are sensitive to the increase in the cost of living for the nearly 19 million South Africans who rely on these grants to make ends meet. In this regard, we have done as much as the fiscal envelope allows.
Sassa Grant Increases For 2024
- An increase of R100 to the old age, war veterans, disability, and care dependency grants (This amount will be divided into R90 effective from April, and R10 effective from October)
- A R50 increase to the foster care grant
- A R20 increase to the child support grant
In the expanded Budget 2024 review, the National Treasury explained that social grant expenditure, excluding the Social Relief of Distress Grant (SRD) grant, will rise from R217.1 billion in 2023/24 to R259.3 billion in 2026/27.
The Covid‐19 Social Relief of Distress Grant is allocated R33.6 billion in 2024/25, with provisional allocations for 2025/26 and 2026/27.
Efforts are underway to enhance the SRD by April this year.
National Treasury will collaborate with the Department of Social Development to ensure that these improvements are captured in the final regulations. These enhancements will be made within the current fiscal framework.
For the extension of the grant beyond March 2025, the finalisation of social security policy reforms, along with identifying funding sources, is underway, according to the Minister.
National Treasury expects the number of grant beneficiaries, excluding those receiving the Covid‐19 SRD Grant, to increase from 18.8 million in 2023/24 to 19.7 million in 2026/27.
