SASSA Old Age grant pensioners December budget, Digi Mart USA News (South Africa): SASSA Old-Age grant pensioners are working out their own budgets ahead of Christmas, and according to comments on The South African’s Facebook page, the numbers do not add up.
The Old Age Grant pays R2 400 per month to people aged 60 and older. With December having 31 days, a pensioner aged 60 to 74 receives about R77.42 a day, while pensioners over 75 receive about R78.06 a day.
That money must cover food, electricity, transport, medicine and, in many homes, other family members. Commenters suggested far higher daily amounts, with one saying R250 per day would be needed, which over December would come to R7 750.
Another commenter backed a monthly figure of R5 000, which would give a pensioner about R161 a day in December, roughly double the current amount. One commenter said R50 a day must go towards electricity, which over 31 days comes to R1 550, or nearly 65% of the R2 400 grant.
That would leave R850 for everything else, or about R27 a day for food, transport and toiletries. The article notes that not every household spends that much on power, but the figures show why many pensioners describe the grant as a survival amount rather than a living amount.
The current amounts took effect in April. While the increases were slightly above inflation, they fell short of the R130 boost pensioners received in 2025.
