The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has made significant changes to its grant system for 2025, bringing hope of relief to millions of citizens in the country. In particular, this new grant of R500 is a ray of hope for needy families who are struggling with the burden of inflation and poverty. In this article, we will give you all the information related to the SASSA R500 grant—eligibility, payment dates and the latest updates related to it.
R500 Grant: A Step Towards Fighting Poverty
This increased grant of R500 is a small but very important relief for many families. This amount alone cannot eliminate poverty, but it is definitely a solid support for families who struggle to meet basic needs like food, education and health every day. Currently, programs like the Child Support Grant and SRD R350 Grant are already in place from SASSA, but their current amount is insufficient to meet the requirements.
Social organizations and citizens have consistently demanded that these grants be increased to the level of the ‘Upper Bound Poverty Line’—the minimum amount considered necessary to maintain dignity of life, which is adjusted every year according to inflation. The R500 grant can be considered a positive start in that direction.
Child Support Grant: Financial security for every child
The Child Support Grant is a flagship scheme of the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) that aims to provide monthly financial assistance to primary caretakers of children under the age of 18. The grant aims to help meet the needs of children, such as nutrition, health, education and shelter, so that no child is left behind due to poverty.
Some key facts:
- Current payment amount: R510 per child per month
- Payment frequency: First week of every month
- New revised amount: This amount may increase to more than R500 from June 2025 (possible adjustments).
- Number of beneficiaries: This grant supports about 13.2 million children.
Other related grants
SASSA not only provides the Child Support Grant but also provides additional financial support in some other special situations:
- Foster Child Grant: If a child is in foster care, the caregiver gets R1,130 per month.
- Care Dependency Grant: For severely disabled children who require constant care, R2,090 per month
Eligibility: Who can avail the benefit?
This grant aims to support low-income families. There are certain criteria:
1. Child’s age:
- The child must be under 18 years of age. The support is paid from birth to 18 years of age.
2. Residence and citizenship:
- The parent must be a South African citizen, permanent resident or refugee. The child must be living in South Africa.
3. Income threshold:
- A single parent must have an annual income of no more than R60,000.
- Married parents must have a combined income of no more than R120,000 per year.
4. Primary guardian status:
- The grant is only paid to the person who is responsible for the child’s care—this person can be a parent, relative or legal guardian.
SASSA Grant Payment Date: June 2025 Update
SASSA has changed its payment schedule from May 2025 and payment dates are now pre-scheduled for June 2025. However, in some cases Child Support Grant beneficiaries may face minor delays.
Expected payment date for June 2025:
- Child Support Grant—6 June 2025 (Expected)
Important note:
- Payments will be automatically transferred to your account by SASSA, with no separate application required.
- If there is a delay, it depends on your assessment period.
Why the small increase in social benefits?
While some benefits, such as the state pension, have seen a 4.1% increase, grants for working-age people have only been increased by 1.7%. This is because the increase in benefit amounts in April each year is based on the inflation recorded in September of the previous year.
- Inflation rate in September 2024: 1.7%
- In October 2024: 2.3%
- In January 2025: 3%
- In March-April 2025: Around 2.8%
It is important to note that even if inflation rises in October, SASSA’s payment increase is based only on the September rate. This is why many social organizations have described this increase as “minimal and inadequate.”
Conclusion: Hope, but much more to come.
This increase in the R500 child support grant and other grants by SASSA has certainly brought relief to millions of families who are struggling to raise their children every day. However, experts believe that this amount is still inadequate, especially when the prices of food and essential services are constantly rising.
Still, this initiative is a necessary step towards strengthening social protection. What is needed is that in the coming years SASSA should make these grants more realistic and in line with the poverty line so that every child and family can live a dignified life.
FAQs
Q. What is the SASSA R500 grant?
A. It is an increased financial support provided through the Child Support Grant by SASSA to assist low-income families in South Africa.
Q. Who is eligible for the R500 Child Support Grant?
A. South African citizens, permanent residents, or refugees caring for children under 18 and meeting income criteria are eligible.
Q. When will the R500 grant be paid in June 2025?
A. The expected payment date for June 2025 is 6 June 2025.
Q. How much is the current Child Support Grant amount?
A. The grant provides approximately R510–R530 per child per month, depending on adjustments.
Q. Do I need to apply again for the increased grant?
A. No, if you’re already receiving the grant and still meet the criteria, the increase will be applied automatically.
