SASSA quietly increases income and asset limits for 2025 grants across South Africa while tightening eligibility checks

If you’ve been relying on a SASSA grant—or thinking about applying for one—you might want to double-check if you still qualify.

That’s because, without much public noise, the South African Social Security Agency has quietly raised the income and asset thresholds for nearly all its grants in 2025.

These changes have been in place since April, but many recipients are just now realizing the impact.

Higher Limits, Stricter Criteria

In April 2025, SASSA rolled out some pretty significant increases to both grant payouts and the qualifying income thresholds—especially for what it calls its “core” grants: the Older Person Grant, Disability Grant, and War Veterans Grant.

These thresholds got a roughly 17% bump, which is well above the recent inflation rate.

But here’s the kicker—it’s also now slightly harder to qualify.

SASSA has upped the income verification game and made the process more thorough, meaning the days of slipping under the radar with unreported income are likely over.

Updated Grant Income Thresholds for August 2025

Here’s how the asset and means limits have changed from earlier in the year to now:

Note: These are annual figures. Divide by 12 to get the monthly threshold.

A Stronger Emphasis on Income Checks

Starting in May 2025, SASSA began taking a much closer look at who actually qualifies for grants.

That means your income is now being cross-checked with external databases and third-party sources.

So, even if you’ve previously flown under the radar, now might not be the time to push your luck.

If your grant has suddenly stopped showing up in your bank account, you’re not alone—over 250,000 recipients have had their payments halted due to non-compliance with the new income and asset rules.

What To Do If Your Grant Has Been Suspended

If you’re one of those affected, don’t panic—but do act fast.

Here’s what you’ll need to do to get things back on track:

• Visit your nearest SASSA branch in person

• Bring a recent bank statement

• Include a valid payslip (if working)

• Provide a copy of your ID (plus your child’s if applying for Childcare)

• Supply proof of residence (no older than 3 months)

If it turns out you’ve gone over the income or asset limits, you still have options. You can:

• Pay back the grant money in full

• Set up a debit order to repay it monthly

• Agree to a payment plan with interest (not ideal—it’ll cost more over time)

New Payment Schedule for August 2025

SASSA has also added a fourth payment date to the calendar, typically the first Friday of each month, to help speed up reviews and reduce delays. Here are the key dates for August:

• Older Person Grants – Tuesday, 5 August

• Disability & War Veterans Grants – Wednesday, 6 August

• Childcare Grants – Thursday, 8 August