The budget process involves making many trade-offs, including between different priorities. As stated in the 2023 Budget Review, the extension of the COVID-19 SRD grant and the inflationary increases to social grants cost R65.3 billion. Given the priorities and pressures facing the 2023 Budget and Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, it is clear that there was (and is) limited fiscal space to accommodate the increase in the COVID-19 SRD grant values. Under spending or savings from 2022/23 do not go through the next year because of the large budget deficit. In addition, a broader agreement on the future of the COVID-19 SRD grant is required, including the financial implications of the proposed change, and how to finance it.