The latest news certainly indicates that the South African social welfare system is going to receive a tiny boost. The new amount will be not much, that is, there will be no drastic changes just the same the dates of the grants will remain the same. Not only the elderly, disabled, war veterans and children will be receiving increased amounts but also some others under SASSA (South African Social Security Agency) will be affected too. Below are the major points that the beneficiaries must be aware of; the new amounts, payment dates and what to expect.
Grant increases starting from October 2025
SASSA granted an increase of R130 in the first half of 2025 to the amount of different social grants. The old age, disability and care dependency grants will all be R2,315 monthly. Furthermore, the new policy raised the grants of veterans to R2,335.
The following changes in aid and support have occurred:
- the new monthly amount for child support and aid stayed at R560, while the monthly amount for foster care is now R1,250.
- The grant for Social Relief of Distress (SRD) will continue at R370 a month through March 2026.
- There is a possibility of very little increase of 10 rand starting from October 1, 2025 for all the grants. That is:
- Old age, disability and care dependency will be changed from R2,315 → R2,325 (or something like that)
- War veterans might see an increase from R2,335 → R2,345 to be a little more than that
- Nevertheless, the October increases are not as much as the earlier hikes of 2025. It is up to the beneficiaries to get the correct amounts for their category with the official SASSA notifications.
October 2025 Payment Schedule Confirmed
Latest news indicates that the SASSA payment schedule for October 2025 is practically the same as the previous months:
- Aging Grants: The grants for the aged will be given at the start of October.
- Other Social Grants: Payment for disabilities, child support, and war veterans, as well as other veterans’ grants, will be done immediately after the old-age grant date.
- Media channels differ and one of them is saying child support payouts will commence on Wednesday, October 2, 2025.
Nonetheless, it should be stated that SASSA usually distributes the various grants in the first few days of every month. So, the recipients are advised not to rush to the nearest payment point as the money will be there throughout the period of payment.
What You Should Do as a Beneficiary
- Grant checking by category and amount Make sure you understand which grant you are receiving (Old Age, Disability, etc.) and check if the new rate for October is higher than your current one.
- Update personal and banking details Check that SASSA has your current contact number, bank or Postbank account, and address to avoid payment delays.
- Monitor official announcements Media coverage is helpful, but the amount of your grant and the date of payment are officially confirmed through SASSA communications (e.g., letters, SMS, and the website).
- Withdrawals to be stretched The purpose of easing the pressure on pay points and ATMs, take out money gradually throughout the payment period.
- Be always vigilant about deductions or fraud By your consent, only one deduction is permitted per month (not to exceed 10%). Report any unauthorized withdrawals immediately.
also read : Goodbye to Retirement at 65: South Africa’s New Retirement Age Explained