LATEST on final SASSA Old-Age Grants for March 2025

There's arguably never been a more uncertain time for SASSA Old-Age Grants for March 2025. Image: File

Never in all my time reporting on SASSA Old-Age Grants for March 2025 have things been this chaotic. From every possible angle, there is little certainty over SASSA Old-Age Grants for March 2025, it’s difficult to know where to even begin. Of course, we cannot neglect to mention Finance Minster Godongwana’s postponed February budget speech. In it, he was to finally confirm SASSA grant increases for the year. Instead, millions of beneficiaries are being neglected, not knowing how much money they’ll receive in just four-weeks’ time …

Add to that what Social Development Minister Tolashe has labelled a Postbank card-swap ‘crisis’ in her own department. Postbank and SASSA gave more than three-million gold card clients less than a month to switch their cards. And it’s abundantly clear that even an extended deadline to Thursday 20 March 2025 will do nothing to expedite proceedings. Elderly, disabled and long-travelling SASSA recipients have had to endure the indignity of queuing outside, in adverse weather, without ablution facilities.

SASSA OLD-AGE GRANTS FOR MARCH 2025

As bad as all this has been in February, the outlook for the final SASSA Old-Age Grants for March 2025 is no rosier. A large part of the uncertainty of the 2025 budget has to do with the future of South African Social Security Agency grants. Earlier in the year, the High Court ruled that millions have been ‘unlawfully’ excluded from Social Relief of Distress (SRD) benefits. If the department was to uphold this ruling, the disbursement of existing ‘core’ SASSA grants (elderly, disabled, war veterans and parents) would almost certainly suffer.

Even more self-defeating is the fact that the GNU blocked the Finance Minister’s raising of VAT by two percentage points, to 17%. Economists believe this was the National Treasury’s attempt to drum up enough funds to pay for a Basic Income Grant (BIG). Itself, an expanded SRD grant, which will require an additional R36 billion of funding. Ironically, another ‘pro-poor’ ANC policy, that would have pushed the prices of basic household items and only impoverished the poor even more.

LAST PAYMENTS AT THE CURRENT RATE IN 2025

Nevertheless, despite this disorganisation, SASSA Old-Age Grants for March 2025 are next scheduled for Tuesday 4 March 2025. As mentioned, the grant amounts are unchanged and will be the last at the current rate. There has been no announcement on when April 2025 payments will take place. Nevertheless, pensioners (60 to 74 years old) will receive R2 190 in March. And beneficiaries 75 and older will receive R2 210 in March. New applicants must note that new SASSA Old-Age Grants for March 2025 take upwards of three months to be processed. However, if successful, you’ll be paid backdated funds to the time of your application.

As for still-unconfirmed SASSA increases in April 2025, neither President Ramaphosa, Finance Minister Godongwana nor Social Development Minister Tolashe have broached the subject in public. Social welfare advocates argue this is because each department is at odds with one another. Following the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) and #PayTheGrants victory against the DSD, Minister Tolashe has until May 2025 to consult with the National Treasury on how to expand SRD grants to all applicants. However, the reality is this will impact ‘core’ SASSA grants beneficiaries and the National Treasury has announced it intends to appeal the judgment.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR OLDER PERSON GRANTS?

Nevertheless, despite unprecedented uncertainty for the nation’s poor, let’s run through eligibility requirements of SASSA Old-Age Grants for March 2025. Of course, old-age benefits only apply to residents 60 years or older. Grants are asset and means tested, so money is only provided to those who really need it. Therefore, when you apply, you must prove you’re sufficiently underprivileged to qualify. SASSA is compelled to look after all legal residents in South Africa, not just citizens.

Note that there are no online application forms. All transactions for SASSA Old-Age Grants for March 2025 must be done in-person at a SASSA office. An official must be present to oversee proceedings. Yes, the agency suffers from terrible queues and we’re told repeatedly that beneficiaries cannot reach them by phone or digitally. However, you can attempt to make a SASSA appointment online first. Click HERE and follow the prompts before going to a SASSA office to present your documents and biometric data in-person.

ASSETS AND MEANS TESTS FOR GRANTS

Furthermore, SASSA is compelled to enforce the following income and asset limits of social welfare:

R8 070 per month (R96 840 per year) income limit if single.
R16 140 per month (R193 680 per year) income limit if married.
Total value of assets R1 372 800 if single.
Total value of assets R2 745 600 if married.

The agency may allow a family member or friend to help you with your application. All they need is a letter from your doctor explaining why you cannot apply personally. And all of the above documentation must be taken to a police station and certified by a commissioner of oaths.

If your application for SASSA Old-Age Grants for March 2025 is denied, you do have 90 days to appeal the decision with the DSD by clicking HERE. Note that, once approved, you will never have to reapply for old-age benefits ever again. However, SASSA does have the right to review your status occasionally. The agency must give you three-months’ notice in writing before the review takes place.

AGENCY CONTACT LIST

Because the agency is terribly overworked assisting the card swaps of three-million Postbank clients, try to be patient when contacting them. You can contact them here:

SASSA toll-free line: 0800 601 011
Head Office of SASSA: 012 400 2322
Email SASSA: grantsenquiries@sassa.gov.za
Or email: president@presidency.gov.za
Postbank: 0800 53 54 55

Note that there is typically a three-month waiting period for ‘core’ SASSA grants. This is so SASSA and the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) can cross-reference all financial and identity data before approval.

BRING THE FOLLOWING DOCS WITH

Make sure you have the following with you for your SASSA Old-Age Grants for March 2025 application:

Documents proving your marital status.
Proof of residence (a utility bill with your name on it).
Official bar-coded ID – smart card or green booklet.
Confirmation of proof of income/financial dividends.
Any relevant information regarding your assets/valuation of property.
Declaration of private pension (if applicable).
Valid three months’ statements certified by your bank (no more than three months old).
Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) membership book, or discharge certificate from your previous job.
Copy of your will, first and final liquidation and distribution accounts if your spouse has passed away in the last five years.

ARE YOU STRUGGLING WITH AGENCY SERVICE?

Let us know by leaving a comment below or send us a WhatsApp on 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African’s newsletter and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest FREE-to-read news.