…as double social grant payments are scrapped
The Namibian government spends approximately N$633 million monthly on social grants, with expenditure estimated at N$7.3 billion for the 2026/27 financial year, as it continues to provide financial assistance to older persons, children and vulnerable citizens.
Ministry of Finance Chief Public Relations Officer Wilson Shikoto said the expenditure covers several social assistance programmes aimed at supporting qualifying beneficiaries across the country.
“The expenditure covers old-age pensions, disability grants for children and adults, vulnerable grants, foster care grants and maintenance grants,” Shikoto said.
The ministry has meanwhile announced changes to the social grant payment schedule, with all beneficiaries set to receive monthly payments from November 2026.
The revised arrangement will end the practice of making double payments to certain beneficiaries in November and January.
Under the new system, beneficiaries who previously received their November and December grants together in November will instead receive separate payments in the respective months.
Similarly, recipients of children’s grants who previously received double payments in January will now receive their grants separately each month.
Shikoto said the Ministry of Finance was working closely with the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare to ensure that the changes were implemented without disrupting payments to beneficiaries.
He explained that the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare remains responsible for receiving grant applications and conducting the attestation process, while the Ministry of Finance handles payments to approved beneficiaries.
The grants are disbursed through NamPost and commercial banks.
The revised payment arrangement changes the timing of disbursements but does not alter the monthly grant entitlements of qualifying beneficiaries.
