SASSA SRD grants in 2025
A ruling on SASSA SRD grants in 2025 could have dire consequences for other 'core' grant beneficiaries. Image: File

Home » Future of SASSA SRD grants in 2025 up in the air

Future of SASSA SRD grants in 2025 up in the air

A High Court ruling has put SASSA SRD grants in 2025 into a tailspin, with the National Treasury staring down a R35-billion barrel …

SASSA SRD grants in 2025
A ruling on SASSA SRD grants in 2025 could have dire consequences for other 'core' grant beneficiaries. Image: File

A big question mark hangs over SASSA SRD grants in 2025. This follows a High Court ruling that could tie-up billions in government’s ‘pro-poor’ budget. While ‘core’ SASSA Old-Age and Child Support grants are disbursed this week, some tricky resolutions are needed for SASSA SRD grants in 2025.

Specifically, the 2025 National Budget Speech is tabled for Wednesday 19 February. And this, rather than this week’s SONI, is when the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) portion might see an increase by R35 billion, reports Business Tech. The January ruling on South African Social Security Agency SRD protocol deemed it ‘unlawful’. It found the once-temporary SRD grant had now become a ‘permanent feature’ of social assistance. But was not being administered as such …

SASSA SRD GRANTS IN 2025

SASSA SRD grants in 2025
Here’s when February SASSA SRD grants in 2025 will be disbursed. Image: SASSA

Because the ANC government only considers SRD a temporary grant, it does not account for it in long-term budgeting. However, the ruling found regulations to limit access to the R370-a-month grant are ‘unconstitutional and invalid’, reports GroundUp. Furthermore, the court ordered SASSA to increase the grant amount and the income threshold to qualify for it. The next SRD pay dates run from 24 – 28 February 2025 (poster above).

Currently, R625 per month is the qualifying criteria for the grant. And the agency conducts monthly checks on applicants’ bank accounts to ensure they stay below the threshold. Critically, financial donations and assistance from friends and relatives often exclude poverty-stricken residents. However, government’s position is that the grant would simply be unaffordable otherwise. And that is why access to the grant is restrictive. Therefore, only half the applicants for SASSA SRD grants in 2025 will be approved. Roughly 9 million out of 18-million submissions.

HUGE DRAIN ON TAXPAYER FUNDS

SASSA SRD grants in 2025
Minister Tolashe has until May to find a solution for SASSA SRD grants in 2025. No easy task with all the fiscal pressure in place. Image: File

As a result of the court ruling, the number of qualifying recipients could rise significantly this year. If so, the National Treasury estimates it would require an additional R35 billion to afford it. It is understood that government is studying the judgement in preparation to appeal the ruling. Advocate Gilbert Marcus, who represented the National Treasury in court, argued that adjusting SRD would, “Impact the other seven ‘core’ social grants“. He said the SRD grant was only meant to be temporary and expanding it would undermine broader poverty reduction strategies.

Marcus reemphasised government’s fiscal challenges, adding that this level of expenditure would severely exceed the social welfare budget. Judge Twala noted that despite an increase in SRD submission, there was a marked drop in successful applicants. In intervening months in 2022, approvals fell from about 11 million to 5.6 million. This enforced reduction resulted in the National Treasury cutting SRD budget grant from R44 billion to R36 billion in 2023/2024.

DIRE CONSEQUENCES FOR CORE GRANTS

SASSA SRD grants in 2025
It was former minister Zulu (ANC) who put all these SRD limitations in place to safeguard budget spending. Image: File

Furthermore, Judge Twala ruled there was, “No reasonable justification to subject potential beneficiaries, who are mainly poor and vulnerable members of society, to a solely online application process. The SRD grant is meant for poor people and to alleviate hunger. For this group of society to not receive the grant timeously or at all has dire consequences,” said Twala.

Twala ordered the Minister Social Development Sisisi Tolashe, in consultation with Minister of Finance Godongwana, to ‘devise and implement a plan’. They should redress the retrogression and progressively increase the value of the SRD grant. This plan is to be delivered to the court in four months’ time from the January 2025 ruling (May 2025) TBC.

SHOULD SASSA SRD CONTINUE OR BE SHELVED IN 2025?

SASSA SRD grants in 2025
Our audience would love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below … Image: File

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