Amidst the 2025/26 national budget laid by Finance Minister, there would be increases granted to social beneficiaries over a period of time, effecting ground in 2026. Surely, the social security agency of South Africa would touch on the worthy reward that was likely to avail financial assistance to the vulnerable category.
Introduction
In the occasion of the 2025 budget speech, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana revealed large alterations above inflation in major government grants along with the social assistance rates as part of an effort to shield the poorest of the poor from increased prices. These increases started on 1 April 2025 and going into effect again on 1 October 2025 and it all remained as grants that were paid in 2026.
New Grants put into effect in 2026.
Major permanent grants that were raised to an acceptable level guaranteeing the recipients continued increase in early 2026 according to the new structure were those for the aged and the disabled. In fact, only minor changes to the Grants for the Aged and Infirm have been made in the 2025/6 financial year, while the Care Dependency Grant, in particular, and Foster Care have seen some incremental increases.
Note that as of this financial year, the grant old-age grant, including the disability grant, has been registered as around R2,320 to R2,340 per month, depending on the age range, the Child Support Grant contribution coming to around R570. These are the amounts that have barely started to trickle down for the 2026 financial year due to the minor add-on of R10 in October 2025. Thus, during the first months of this year, this amount will continue to uplift our Beneficiaries.
What It Means For Beneficiaries
So it continues that their grants will respond up and below the 2026 financial year payments, banging congratulations from beneficiaries and vast over-rationing funds, particularly due to the elderly and firms themselves supporting very young stuff: related verifiers keep reflecting on pegging small and inflation-like increases, small though they may beat poverty lines under such circumstances.
Occurring on 2026 payments
It is worth noting for all beneficiaries that grants are paid monthly by SASSA, and normally, Older Persons and Disability Grants are processed first, early in every month. Beneficiaries must ensure their personal details and banking information are up to date to avoid unnecessary delays in the updating of the increased rates. Perhaps the grant recipients should expect the amended grant from the beginning of 2026 within the 2025/26 budgetary framework that is still struggling to find okay.