What types of social grants can SA citizens apply for, and what are the requirements?
People are in need nowadays, but what help can they get from the government? Here is a list of the grants available to the public and hos to apply for them.
To apply for a social grant in South Africa, you must go through the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), which offers approximately eight types of grants.
These include the Older Person’s Grant (old age pension), Child Support Grant, Care Dependency Grant, Grant in Aid for those needing assistance, War Veteran’s Grant, Foster Child Grant, and Disability Grant.
Citizens can also seek temporary assistance through the Social Relief of Distress Grant.
Read more:Â How to apply for a Sassa old age grant
According to the South African Government, to apply, you must fill out an application form in the presence of a SASSA official, only you or a SASSA official may complete it. Application forms are not available online, and can only be obtained at your nearest SASSA office.
If you are unable to visit the office due to age or illness, a family member or friend can apply on your behalf, provided they have a letter from you and/or a doctor’s note explaining your situation.
After submitting your application, you will receive a receipt as proof of submission. If your application is denied, SASSA will notify you in writing with the reasons for the rejection.
If you disagree with the decision, you can appeal to the Minister of Social Development at the National Department of Social Development office within 90 days of being informed of the denial.
About The Older Person’s Grant.
An older person’s grant is paid to people who are 60 years or older.
How do you know if you qualify:
• Be a South African citizen, permanent resident, or refugee.
• Live in South Africa.
• Not receive any other social grant for yourself.
• Not be cared for in a state institution.
• Not earn more than R86 280 per year if you are single, or R172 560 if married.
How to apply.
• Your 13-digit bar-coded identity document (ID). If you do not have an ID, you must complete an affidavit on a standard SASSA format in the presence of a Commissioner of Oaths who is not a SASSA official.
• A sworn statement signed by a reputable person like a councillor, traditional leader, social worker, minister of religion, or school principal who can verify your name and age.
• The SASSA official will take your fingerprints. If you don’t have an ID you will be referred to the Department of Home Affairs to apply for the ID while your application is processed. If you don’t get an ID, your grant will be suspended.
• Proof of residence and other proof documents
• If you are employed, proof of your Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) membership (blue book) or discharge certificate from your previous employer.
About The Child Support Grant.
If you are needy, you can get a grant to help you raise the child you look after.
How do you know if you qualify:
• Be the child’s primary caregiver for example: parent, grandparent, or a child over 16 heading a family. Also, If you are not the child’s parent, you must provide proof that you are the child’s primary caregiver through an affidavit from a police official, a social worker’s report, an affidavit from the biological parent, or a letter from the principal of the school attended by the child.
• Be a South African citizen or permanent resident.
• Not earn more than R52 800 per year if you are single. If you are married, your combined income should not be above R105 600 per year.
• The child must be under the age of 18 years.
• The child must not be cared for in a state institution.
How to apply:
• Your 13-digit bar-coded ID and the child’s birth certificate. If you don’t have an ID or the child’s birth certificate: you must complete an affidavit in a standard SASSA format in the presence of a Commissioner of Oaths who is not a SASSA official.
• A sworn statement by a reputable person for example a councillor, traditional leader, social worker, or minister of religion who knows the applicant and the child.
• Proof that you have applied for an ID and/or birth certificate at the Department of Home Affairs, if applicable.
• A temporary ID issued by the Department of Home Affairs, if applicable.
Also read:Â Sassa suspends payments at cash paypoints amid unrest
About The Care Dependency Grant.
The care dependency grant covers disabled children from birth until they turn 18.
How do you know if you qualify:
• Be a parent, primary caregiver, or a foster parent appointed by the court.
• Be a South African citizen or permanent resident.
• The child must be younger than 18 years.
• The child must not be cared for permanently in a state institution.
• The child must have a severe disability and need full-time and special care.
What you should do:
• Your 13-digit bar-coded ID and birth certificate. If you don’t have an ID or birth certificate: complete an affidavit on a standard SASSA format in the presence of a Commissioner of Oaths who is not a SASSA official.
• A sworn statement signed by a reputable person such as a councillor, traditional leader, social worker, minister of religion, or school principal who can verify your name and age.
• The SASSA official will take your fingerprints; if you don’t have an ID you will be referred to the Department of Home Affairs to apply for the ID while your application is processed. If you don’t get an ID, your grant will be suspended.
• Proof that you have applied for an ID and/or birth certificate at the Department of Home Affairs, if applicable.
• A temporary ID issued by the Department of Home Affairs, if applicable.
About The Grant-In-Aid.
If you are living on a social grant but can not look after yourself, you can get an additional grant to pay the person who takes full-time care of you.
How do you know if you qualify:
• You must already get a disability grant, war veteran’s grant, or grant for older persons.
• Not be able to look after yourself owing to your physical or mental disability, and therefore need full-time care from someone else.
• Not be cared for in an institution that receives a subsidy from the government for your care.
What you should do:
• Your 13-digit bar-coded ID.
• Proof of your marital status and spouse’s identity, where applicable.
• Medical report or assessment report less than three months old that shows that you need full-time care.
About A War Veteran’s Grant.
If you are a former soldier who fought in the Second World War (1939-1945) or the Korean War (1950-1953) and are unable to support yourself, you can apply for a war veteran’s grant.
How do you know if you qualify:
• Be a South African citizen or permanent resident
• Live in South Africa
• Be 60 years of age or older or be disabled
• Have fought in the Second World War or the Korean War
• Not receive any other social grant for yourself.
• Not be cared for in a state institution.
What you should do:
• Your 13-digit bar-coded ID. If you don’t have an ID: complete an affidavit on a standard SASSA format in the presence of a Commissioner of Oaths who is not a SASSA official.
• A sworn statement signed by a reputable person like a councillor, traditional leader, social worker, minister of religion, or school principal who can verify your name and age.
• Proof of your war service, for example a certificate of service.
• If you are under 60, a medical assessment or report stating that you cannot work.
About The Foster Child Grant.
Get a grant to take care of your foster child. A foster child is a child who has been placed in your custody by a court as a result of being an orphaned, abandoned, at risk, abused, or neglected.
How do you know if you qualify:
• You must be a South African citizen, permanent resident, or refugee,
• You and the child must live in South Africa,
• The foster child must be legally placed in your care and the child must remain in your care,
• The child must be younger than 18.
What you should do:
• Your 13-digit bar-coded ID and the birth certificate for the child.
• If you are a refugee, your status permit and refugee ID.
• If you don’t have your ID or the child’s birth certificate: complete an affidavit on a standard SASSA format in the presence of a Commissioner of Oaths who is not a SASSA official.
• Bring a sworn statement signed by a reputable person like a councillor, traditional leader, social worker, minister of religion, or school principal who knows you and the child.
About A Disability Grant.
If you have a physical or mental disability which makes you unfit to work for a period of longer than six months, you can apply for a disability grant.
You get a permanent disability grant if your disability will continue for more than a year and a temporary disability grant if your disability will last for a continuous period of not less than six months and not more than 12 months. A permanent disability grant does not mean you will receive the grant for life, but that it will continue for longer than 12 months.
How do you know if you qualify:
• Be a South African citizen, or permanent resident, or refugee and living in South Africa at the time of application.
• Be between 18 and 59 years old.
• Not be cared for in a state institution.
• Have a 13-digit, bar-coded identity document (ID).
• Not earn more than R86 280 per year if you are single, or R172 560 if married.
What you should do:
• Submit your 13-digit bar-coded ID. If you don’t have an ID: you must complete an affidavit on a standard SASSA format in the presence of a Commissioner of Oaths who is not a SASSA official.
• You must bring a sworn statement signed by a reputable person like a councillor, traditional leader, social worker, minister of religion, or school principal who can verify your name and age.
• The SASSA official will take your fingerprints. If you don’t have an ID, you will be referred to the Department of Home Affairs to apply for the ID while your application is processed. If you don’t get an ID, your grant will be suspended.
• A medical report and functional assessment report confirming your disability.
About Applying For Social Relief of Distress Grant.
Social relief of distress is the temporary provision of assistance intended for persons in such dire material need that they are unable to meet their families most basic needs.
This could be due to the fact that you need help while you wait for your children’s grants to be processed, a crisis or disaster has occurred like your house has burnt down, you do not qualify for a grant, or you are in a desperate situation wherein you need assistance.
What you should do:
• Apply for social relief of distress at your nearest SASSA office, or visit https://srd.sassa.gov.za/.
• Submit your application with your 13-digit bar-coded identity document and your children’s birth certificates.
• If your identity document and/or a birth certificate are not available an affidavit commissioned by a Justice of the Peace must be produced. The affidavit must contain a clause which indicates that provision of incorrect or inaccurate information will result in prosecution in terms of Section 21 of the Social Assistance Act, 2004.
• A sworn statement by a reputable person who knows the applicant and the child. This may be from a councillor, traditional leader, social worker, or minister of religion.
• If there is no ID or birth certificate proof that an application for the birth certificate or ID has been lodged with the Department of Home Affairs must be produced.
Enquiries:
• Toll free: 0800 60 10 11 or CPS 0800 60 01 60
• Email: GrantEnquiries@sassa.gov.za
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