Windhoek:The Ministry of Finance has announced the cessation of its annual year-end double payment system for social grant beneficiaries, effective from November this year. Previously, beneficiaries received two months' payments at once, either in November or January.

According to NAMPA, the decision means that social grants will now be disbursed monthly, ensuring that beneficiaries who received a double payment in November will now receive the November payment in November and the December payment in December. Similarly, recipients of children's grants who received a double payment in January will receive one payment each month going forward.

The change affects various grants, including the old age pension, the disability grant for children and adults, the vulnerable grant, the foster care grant, and the maintenance grant. The Ministry emphasized that the total annual amount received by beneficiaries remains unchanged, with the payments now spread equally over each month. The government has been allocating approximately N$7.3 billion in social grants this financial year.

The Ministry further advised beneficiaries to manage their household budgets on a monthly basis, taking into account festive season and back-to-school expenses. Coordination with the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare is ongoing to ensure the continuity of payments without disruption. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare handles applications and attestations, while the Ministry of Finance processes payments via NamPost and commercial banks.