NSFAS R5,200 Allowance : The official confirmation of the R5,200 December 2025 allowance along with the exact payment dates by NSFAS has enabled thousands of South African students to let out a sigh of relief. This is good news for students who are about to have the December break, as many of them depend on NSFAS support to buy essentials such as food, transport, and study materials.
The announcement was made after a series of speculations had been surrounding the December allowance payment, as most campuses close before mid-month. NSFAS has now dispersed the clouds of confusion and offered a precise dissection of what the beneficiaries can expect.
What The R5,200 December Allowance Includes
The latest update contains information that the R5,200 December payment is constituted of:
- R1,650 – Living Allowance
- R3,540 – Meal Allowance
- R200 – Personal Care Allowance
The total amount is expected to provide support to the students during the festive season and to help them with their basic needs even if they are not in the campus residences.
NSFAS has declared that the full monthly payment will be processed even though academic activities are taking place slowly in December. This is a guarantee that students will continue to receive financial support during the holiday period.
Official NSFAS December 2025 Payment Dates
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has announced that the entire December allowance will be distributed from the 5th to the 10th of December 2025. Besides, the disbursement of the allowance will be carried out by the respective institutions for university and TVET college students according to their approved schedules.
As for the students who are using the NSFAS bank account system, they have been recommended to keep their devices charged and to monitor their accounts closely for SMS notifications that will confirm the deposit.
Reasons For The Early Payment?
According to NSFAS, one of the reasons for the early transfer of funds is to prevent disruption which might be caused by:
- Early closure of institutions
- Limited banking operations towards the end of the month
- Students traveling more during the festive season
In this way, all the beneficiaries will receive their allocated funds first before going home or spending on holidays.
Main Reminder For Students
To prevent any delay in processing, NSFAS advises students to:
- Verify that their respective bank accounts are operational
- Provide the current cellphone numbers
- React right away to any requests for verification
- Do not disclose personal information to any unofficial platforms
Similarly, NSFAS has alerted students to be on the lookout for scam texts that talk about payment issues or offer installment deposits that have been “fast-tracked”.
Also Read: Good News: SASSA Schedules Double Grant Payment For 12 December 2025