SASSA grants: Here are payment dates for May.

SASSA grants: Here are payment dates for May 2023

Based on the schedule released by the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) for 2022/23 payment dates, people can expect their social grants from Monday, 3 May 2023.

In March, SASSA announced that social grants would be paid from the second day of the month, from April 2022 onwards.

SASSA SOCIAL GRANT PAYMENT DATES FOR MAY

Previously, social grants used to be paid on the 1st of every month. In order to curb the spread of the Covid-19 infection, payment dates were then revised. 

• Older persons – 3 May 2023
• Disability grants – 4 May 2023
• Children’s grants – 5 May 20223
• As previously reported, SASSA said it heard beneficiaries’ complaints about the previous payment schedule and decided to make a change.

“If the second day of the month falls on a weekend or public holiday, the payment will take place on the following work day,” said the agency.

CONCERNS OVER NEW R350 SRD GRANT CRITERIA

The National State of Disaster, which facilitated the SRD grant, came to an end in April 2022. However, the Department of Social Development has been working on a regulatory framework for the payment of the grant since Ramaphosa announced the extension.

Social Development Minister, Lindiwe Zulu gazetted the new regulations on 22 April, a day before the application process reopened.

All beneficiaries of the R350 SRD rant are required to re-apply and the criteria is tighter than before. Many social justice groups and unions feel that the new regulations will leave the poor poorer.

The income threshold for eligibility has been lowered from R595 to R350.

This means that the millions of South Africans who have a monthly income of R351 or more that previously received social assistance are no longer eligible.

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) criticised the grant’s new income threshold, saying that close to three million of the grant’s recipients are no longer eligible.

COSATU said it and the National Parliament were not informed of the drastic amendments announced by Zulu’s ministry and claims the government implemented the changes without “any public consultation.”

“This is a slap in the face to the millions who receive and depend upon this SRD Grant. It is callous and reckless that the overfed politicians and out-of-touch bureaucrats who recently recommended a 3% salary increase for Political office bearers are prepared to take money from the unemployed South Africans.” COSATU