A growing number of social-media posts have recently claimed that SASSA has approved a new R5,000 monthly pension grant for 2025. However, as of now, no official announcement confirms such an increase. The claim appears to come from online rumours and advocacy groups calling for higher pension support — not from SASSA or the South African government.
What Is Officially Confirmed for 2025
SASSA has implemented its scheduled increases for 2025, raising the Old Age Grant earlier this year. Current grant amounts remain:
- R2,315 for seniors aged 60–74
- R2,335 for seniors 75 and older
These are the verified grant amounts that South Africans will continue receiving until an official update is issued by government or Treasury.
Where the R5,000 Claim Comes From
The proposed R5,000 pension amount stems from pensioner organisations and civil groups who have been calling for a major increase. Their goal is to help seniors cope with rising costs, food inflation, and medical expenses. However, their requests have not been passed into law and are not part of SASSA’s current grant structure.
What Beneficiaries Should Know
- There is no confirmed R5,000 pension grant
- All official SASSA payments still follow the regular grant schedule
- Any message promising a sudden jump to R5,000 should be treated with caution
- Always verify updates directly from SASSA or government announcements
Who Qualifies for the Current Old Age Grant
To qualify for the existing pension grant, applicants must:
- Be South African citizens, permanent residents, or refugees
- Be 60 years or older
- Pass the means test, ensuring their income and assets fall within required limits
- Not be receiving another state-funded social grant
- Not be cared for in a state institution
These criteria remain unchanged in 2025.
Will the Pension Ever Increase to R5,000?
While advocacy groups continue pushing for a significant raise, it would require:
- Approval by Treasury
- Budget allocation from Parliament
- Official announcement by SASSA
Until these steps happen, the R5,000 figure remains unapproved.
Conclusion
The R5,000 SASSA pension boost for 2025 is not confirmed. Beneficiaries should rely only on verified government updates, not viral rumours. The official Old Age Grant remains just over R2,300 per month depending on age — and any future increase will be publicly announced before being implemented.
