---
title: "R30bn more for social grants, Social Relief of Distress to continue for another year"
description: "The Department of Social Development has been allocated just more than R1-trillion for social grants and welfare services, with social grants accounting for 88% of it. Of this, R36-billion is earmarked for the extension of the Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress grant until 31 March 2024."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "BUDGET 2023"
author: "Neesa Moodley"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/neesa-moodley/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-02-22-r30bn-more-for-social-grantss-srd-grant-to-continue-for-another-year/"
published: "2023-02-22T15:50:23"
updated: "2023-02-22T16:40:07"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 163
---

# R30bn more for social grants, Social Relief of Distress to continue for another year

> The Department of Social Development has been allocated just more than R1-trillion for social grants and welfare services, with social grants accounting for 88% of it. Of this, R36-billion is earmarked for the extension of the Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress grant until 31 March 2024.

By Neesa Moodley · Published 22 February 2023, 17:50 SAST · Updated 22 February 2023, 18:40 SAST

## Key points
- The South African government has allocated R400-million to Sassa to administer the SRD grant and is considering other options to provide additional social protection. Currently, 7.5 million people are receiving the SRD grant and another 13 million had applied in January this year. In addition, all other social grants have been increased in line with inflation, totalling R30-billion in increased expenditure. By March 2026, almost 20 million South Africans will receive social grants with old age and disability grants increasing from R2,090 to R2,190 on 1 April and 1 October respectively. The child support grant also increases from R480 to R510 on 1 October 2023 and the foster care grant increases from R1,070 to R1,130 over the same period.
- The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has been allocated R400-million to administer the SRD grant.
- 13 million people applied for the SRD grant in January this year, with 60% of recipients between 18 and 35 years old and 45% having a Grade 12 certificate.
- All other social grants have been increased in line with inflation, adding up to R30-billion in increased expenditure.
- By March 2026, almost 20 million South Africans will receive social grants, with the old age and disability grant increasing to R2,090 and the child support grant rising from R480 to R510 on 1 October 2023.

## Content

Another R400-million has been allocated to the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) to [administer the SRD grant](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-02-09-social-grant-payments-are-a-mess-and-the-public-needs-answers-from-sassa-sapo-and-postbank/). The government has not yet finalised options to provide further social protection to supplement it.

Sassa told Parliament this month that about 7.5 million people currently receive the SRD grant and another 13 million had applied in January this year. At least 60% of recipients are between the ages of 18 and 35 years, and at least 45% have a Grade 12 certificate.

All other social grants have been increased in line with inflation, adding up to R30-billion in increased expenditure. Almost 20 million South Africans will receive social grants by March 2026.

The old age and disability grant increases to R2,090, with an additional R90 on 1 April and a further R10 on 1 October.

The child support grant rises from R480 to R510 on 1 October 2023, while the foster care grant increases from R1,070 to R1,130 over the same period. **BM/DM**

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