‘We struggle but we fought for this country’: Pensioners push for more from SASSA

Pensioners say their South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) grants no longer stretch far enough. Many are calling on government to rethink how and when it increases payments.

Commenting on The South African’s Facebook page, grant recipients shared their frustrations about the rising cost of living. They responded to a story about a pensioner who called for the Older Persons and War Veterans grants to rise to R3 000.

FOOD COSTS LEAVE SASSA GRANT RECIPIENTS SHORT

Petunia Allan said even R3 000 would not be enough.

“Yes, that’s better, but we want R5000. The cost of living is high. What I think is to increase 2 times a year. Food goes up every day. We struggle, but we fought for this country. I don’t understand,” she wrote.

Freeman Ncube agreed that grants barely cover the basics.

“Yes the money of sassa is too small for important things it finish on food and still short,” he said.

Since April 2026, the Older Persons Grant, Disability Grant, and Care Dependency Grant have been paid at R2 400 per month, following an R80 increase. The War Veterans Grant rose by R80 to R2 420. The government currently announces grant increases once a year in the Budget Speech.

TAX AND PAYMENT IDEAS

Some commenters proposed other ways to ease the pressure on older people.

Rita Botha wrote simply: “No tax or vat for pensioners !!”

Social grants do not attract income tax, but pensioners still pay VAT on most goods they buy. A few basic foods, such as brown bread and maize meal, are zero-rated.

Abduragmaan Crombie suggested a change to how often pensioners receive their money.

“Pensioner should receive twice a month your Pension Payments,” he commented.

CONFUSION OVER CHANGING NUMBERS

Michelle Naidoo questioned the frequent changes.

“why does the numbers keep changings,” she asked.

She did not say which figures she meant. However, many grant recipients have had to adjust to new grant amounts this year, as well as once-off November payment dates that SASSA introduced because of the Local Government Elections.

SASSA has confirmed that the December dates will follow the original schedule. Older Persons Grants will be paid on 2 December, Disability Grants on 3 December and Children’s Grants on 4 December 2026.

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