What is SASSA?

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) is a government entity under the Department of Social Development, responsible for the administration and distribution of social grants in South Africa. Established in 2006, SASSA’s primary mission is to provide financial assistance to vulnerable and disadvantaged individuals, ensuring a better quality of life for millions of South Africans.

Types of SASSA Grants

SASSA administers several types of grants aimed at meeting the diverse needs of different groups of people, including:

Child Support Grant: Designed to assist parents or guardians with the financial costs of raising children.
Older Person’s Grant: Aimed at providing income support to citizens aged 60 and above.
Disability Grant: Offered to individuals who are medically certified as permanently or temporarily disabled.
Foster Child Grant: Supports caregivers of children placed under foster care.
Grant in Aid: Given to individuals who require full-time care due to a medical condition or physical disability.
Care Dependency Grant: Assists caregivers of children with severe disabilities who need full-time care.
War Veteran’s Grant: Provided to former soldiers who served in World War I, World War II, or the Korean War.
Social Relief of Distress (SRD) Grant: Temporary assistance provided to individuals in dire financial need, including the R370 SRD grant for COVID-19 relief.
SASSA Grant Amounts

The amount received under each grant varies. For instance:

The Child Support Grant currently stands at R510 per month.
The Older Person’s Grant ranges from R2,080 to R2,100, depending on age.
The Disability Grant is R2,080.
The SRD Grant, originally introduced as R350, was increased to R370 in 2024.
These amounts are reviewed annually to align with inflation and the rising cost of living. Around 17 million South Africans benefit from these grants, showcasing the scale of SASSA's impact.

SASSA Payment Dates

SASSA ensures that grant recipients receive their payments promptly each month. Payments are typically made as follows:

Older Person’s Grant: First working day of the month.
Disability Grant: Second working day of the month.
Child Support and other grants: Third working day of the month.
Recipients can access their payments through various channels, including bank accounts, SASSA cards, or cash collection points. To avoid overcrowding, payments are staggered over several days. Beneficiaries are advised to keep track of the official payment calendar, which is updated monthly by SASSA.