Budget: Social grants spending to increase
The elderly and disabled will get more, but it's a drop in the ocean.
An elderly woman gives a child a drink of water as they sit in a viewing area in Qunu, 15 December 2013. Several public viewing areas have been erected in and around the village of Qunu to view Nelson Mandela’s funeral. Picture: Refilwe Modise
Come April, the elderly and disabled can expect more to their social grant cheque but South Africans who rely on the state to survive may not be overjoyed.
In addition to the increase for these categories, foster care and child support grants will also rise.
When it comes to the old age grant for those over 60, they will get an extra R90 to their monthly sum of R1 510. Over-65s will get R1 620.
The disability and care-dependency grants will also increase by R90 to R1 600 a month while foster-care grants will increase by even less, with R30 added. This means government will now support them with R920.
For those who need child support, they’ll get an extra R20, equalling R380.
Overall government spending on grants will rise from just under 165 billion in 2016/17 to R209 billion budgeted to spend by 2019/20.
The number of people who need state assistance is expected to reach 18 million by 2019/20.
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