SASSA grants play a critical role in protecting the less privileged people in South Africa against poverty. More than R18 million vulnerable people receive different forms of grants. The money is used to pay for rent, transport, food, and other essential services. However, the financial aid is hardly enough to cover basic needs, which is why grants are not heavily deducted. Check out the deductions that are taken from the SASSA grant.
What Deductions Are Taken From SASSA Grant?
There has been an outcry over SASSA deductions for some time, but concerned non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have asked the government to stop unlawful, undocumented, and unauthorized deductions. According to the Social Assistance Act, funeral insurance is the only deduction that can be made from a social grant. The deduction for the funeral scheme must not be more than 10% of the grant money.
In terms of this Act, if your grant money is R2000, your deduction for the funeral scheme must not exceed R200. In most cases, beneficiaries witnessed unauthorized deductions by lenders who put illegal debit orders on the beneficiaries’ SASSA bank accounts. For instance, several beneficiaries experienced unauthorized deductions for multiple funeral schemes, loan repayments, prescribed debt, airtime, electricity, and payments for water. After these illegal deductions, beneficiaries will be left with very little or nothing. This is why the government had to intervene.
How Much Is the New SASSA Payment?
The Finance Minister announced in the 2023 budget speech presented on 22 February 2023 that the government would provide additional funding of R227 billion to cover social grants and other social developments. Beneficiaries of different SASSA grants will get pay increments on 1 April 2023 and a further increase on 1 October 2023. The new grant payments will be as follows:
- The older Persons Grant: Recipients between 60 and 74 years will get an increment of R90 to make their new payment of R2080 on 1 April from R1990. On 1 October, they will get an additional R10 to make it R2090. Beneficiaries over 75 years will get an increase of R90 to make their grant payment R2100 from R2010. It will be increased to R2110 on 1 October (R10 increment).
- Child Support Grant: Beneficiaries will get an increment of R20 on 1 April 2023 to make the new payment of R500 from the current R480. On 1 October 2023, the new payment will be R510, following an increase of R10.
- Disability Grant: On 1 April 2023, the new payment will be R2080, following an increment of R90. On 1 October, another R10 will be added to make the grant R2090 which currently stands at R1990.
- Foster Child Grant: On 1 April 2023, the new payment will be R1120, up from R1070 (R50 increment). Another R10 will be added on 1 October 2023 to make it R1130.
- Child Support Grant: On 1 April 2023, the grant will increase by R10 to R250, up from R240. However, there will be no increment on this grant on 1 October 2023.
- Care Dependency Grant: On 1 April 2023, it will be increased by R90 to R2080 from the current R1990. A further R10 will be added on 1 October to make the grant R2090.
- The War Veterans Grant: This grant will increase by R90 on 1 April 2023 to R2100 from R2010. On 1 October 2023, it will be R2110 following an increase of R10.
- The Grant-In-Aid: This grant will increase by R20 on 1 April 2023 to R500 from the current R480. Another R10 will be added on 1 October to make it R510.
How Much Can You Earn and Still Get SASSA Grant?
SASSA grants are intended for poor people, so your total monthly income should not exceed a specific threshold if you want to qualify for funding. For instance, your monthly income cannot exceed R7190 to qualify for the grant if you are single. Married couples should have a combined income of less than R14 380 per month. You also need to disclose the income earned by everyone in your household to be considered for the SASSA grant.
Your assets also determine whether you qualify for the SASSA grant or not. If you are single and you have assets that exceed R1 227 600, you will not be able to claim an old age grant. Married couples must have combined assets with a value that does not exceed R2 455 200 to qualify for the old age grant. If you live in the property, you are likely to qualify for the grant, especially when it is not generating any income, such as rental money.
Can SASSA Take Your Money Back?
SASSA cannot reverse the money already deposited into your bank account. You can withdraw it any time you want, so there is no need to rush. Even if you do not use the money soon after it has been credited into your account, it will be safe.
SASSA thoroughly verifies grant applications to ensure that only deserving candidates get financial aid. Therefore, once your application has been approved, it means you qualify to get funding. However, if your circumstances change and you fail to notify SASSA, your social grant will be cancelled. The money already disbursed might not be redeemable.
SASSA grants provide financial assistance to people who come from poor backgrounds. Beneficiaries usually get amounts that are hardly enough to cover all their basic needs. As a result, the only deduction that can be made on grant money is funeral insurance. The government has ordered lenders to desist from making unauthorized deductions from social grant payments.
