SASSA social grants, USA News (South Africa): Recognised refugees received R150.8 million in social grants during the 2025/26 financial year, including R32.7 million in Old Age Grants and R6 million in Disability Grants, according to figures disclosed by the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) in a parliamentary response.
The agency allocated an estimated R150.8 million in social grants to recognised refugees living in the country during the 2025/26 financial year, with more than R105 million going towards Child Support Grants, R32.7 million to Old Age Grants and R6 million to Disability Grants. Care Dependency Grants totalled R5.9 million, while smaller allocations were recorded for Grant-in-Aid and Foster Child Grants, amounting to R271,600 and R198,750 respectively.
The figures were disclosed in a written parliamentary response by the Department of Social Development to a question from African Transformation Movement (ATM) MP Vuyo Zungula, who sought clarity on how much government funding was paid to foreign nationals. According to the response, an estimated R1.12 billion was allocated to permanent residents, while recognised refugees accounted for approximately R150.8 million. A further R10.6 million was allocated to qualifying foreign nationals through the R370 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant. The combined estimated expenditure across the three categories amounted to approximately R1.28 billion, representing less than 1% of South Africa’s social assistance budget.
The parliamentary response revealed that permanent residents accounted for R1,116,540,950 in estimated social grant expenditure during the 2025/26 financial year. The Old Age Grant accounted for the largest portion, at R931.5 million, followed by the Child Support Grant at R134.5 million and the Disability Grant at R31.7 million. Other allocations included R8.4 million for the Care Dependency Grant, R6.6 million for Grant-in-Aid and R3.8 million for the Foster Child Grant. The department said expenditure on permanent residents represented just 0.45% of the country’s social assistance budget.
The parliamentary response also provided a breakdown of the estimated R10,617,150 in SRD grant expenditure allocated to qualifying foreign nationals during the 2025/26 financial year. Lesotho Exemption Permit holders accounted for the largest share, receiving approximately R9.18 million. General asylum seekers accounted for R962,370, while Zimbabwean Exemption Permit holders received R448,810. Angolan Special Permit holders accounted for the smallest allocation, at R24,420. The department indicated that the total expenditure represented 0.03% of the allocated R370 SRD grant budget.
The department maintained that social assistance is restricted to individuals who meet eligibility requirements prescribed by South African legislation. It explained that the Constitution and the Social Assistance Act allow qualifying South African citizens, permanent residents and recognised refugees to receive social grants, while individuals unlawfully living in the country are excluded. The department further explained that certain categories of asylum seekers and special permit holders may qualify for the SRD grant, provided they meet relevant requirements including insufficient financial means, valid documentation, and living in South Africa.
The disclosure comes amid scrutiny of the social grant system following reports that approximately 400,000 beneficiaries had been flagged for assessment and review. Zungula’s parliamentary question specifically sought a breakdown of payments to foreign nationals according to grant type, country of origin and residency status. In its response, the department emphasised that the amounts disclosed related exclusively to foreign nationals legally entitled to receive social assistance, and defended SASSA’s verification procedures against Department of Home Affairs records to ensure compliance with the legislative framework.
Additionally, SASSA announced it will pay older persons’ grants, disability grants and children’s grants earlier than usual ahead of South Africa’s November 4, 2026 local government elections, ensuring that vital financial support reaches beneficiaries without interruption.
