Social grants are put in place to realise the social economic rights of citizens. They are administered by the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA). Social grants are provided to people in need of state support as a consequence of various vulnerabilities. As of 2020, there are seven grants administered:
- Child support grant
- Older person’s grant
- Disability grant
- Grant-in-aid
- Care Dependency Grant
- War Veteran’s Grant
Ungafaka nesicelo Sesibonelelo Senhlekelele ukuze uthole usizo lwesikhashana.
Izibonelelo zomphakathi zitholwa abantu baseNingizimu Afrika, izakhamuzi ezinelungelo eligcwele kanye nababaleki. Izibonelelo ezibandakanya ukunakekelwa kwezingane (isibonelelo sezingane, isibonelelo sabantu abanakekela izingane ezinezinkinga zempilo, asitholakali kubantu abangababaleki)
Isibonelelo sezingane
This is valued at R450 (2021) to children under the age of 18 living with a primary caregiver, both of which live in South Africa.
Qualifiers
- applied for by the primary caregiver (parent or legal guardian). This includes a child over 16 heading a family
- not earn more than R52 800 a year if you are single, R105 600 a year combined income if married.
How to apply
Go to the nearest SASSA office you with:
- ID document and child’s birth certificate or proof that you have applied for ID and or birth certificate
- Proof of your employment and earnings or absence thereof (affidavit from SAPS)
- Marriage certificate if applicable
- If divorced, court order that proves custody of child
- Death certificates or proof that the parent is missing (SAPS) if applicable.
Older person’s grant
Formerly called Old Age Pension, the older person’s grant is paid to people who are 60 years or older. It is valued at R1860 per month, increased by R20 if you are older than 75.
Qualifiers
- This grant is also granted to refugees living in South Africa
- must not be on another social grant
- must not be in the care of a state institution
- must not be earning more than R86 280 a year if you are single, or have a combined income of R172 560 if married.
- must not have assets more than R1 227 600 if you are single and R2 455 200 if you are married.
How to apply
Go to the nearest SASSA office with:
- ID document
- Proof of marital status if applicable
- Proof of residence
- Proof of income and/or dividends if any
- Proof of assets
- Proof of your private pension if any
- Three month bank statement
- Proof of Unemployment insurance fund (UIF) if previously employed
- If your spouse died within the last five years, a copy of the will if applicable
A family member or friend can apply on behalf of the elderly if they are too sick or too old to travel to the office. Must provide a letter from the elderly person and/or doctor’s note with reasoning why the person cannot attend.
Disability grant
This grant is paid to persons with a mental or physical impairment that renders them incapable for longer than six months. The maximum amount paid is R 1860 per month.
It is called a permanent disability grant if the disability continues for more than one year and temporary if less than 12 months but more than 6 months.
Qualifiers
- aged between 18 and 59 years old
- not cared for in a state institution
- must not be earning more than R86 280 a year if you are single, or have a combined income of R172 560 if married.
- must not have assets more than R1 227 600 if you are single and R2 455 200 if you are married.
- undergo a medical examination by a doctor appointed by the state to assess degree of disability (bring along previous medical record)
How to apply
Go to your nearest SASSA office with:
- ID document
- medical report and functional assessment report confirming disability
- proof of marital status
- proof of residence
- proof of income or dividends
- proof of assets, income or dividends if any
- proof of private pension if any
- three months’ bank statement if applicable
- UIF document if previously employed
- copy of will if your spouse died within the last five years
Care dependency grant
This is a grant received by caregivers living with children with severe disabilities in need of full-time and special care. It is valued at R1860 per month and received until the child turns 18.
Qualifiers
- applicant must be the parent, foster parent or primary caregiver
- South African citizen or permanent resident
- the child must have a severe disability and need full-time and special care
How to apply
Go to nearest SASSA office with:
- ID and birth certificate
- medical assessment report that confirms the disability
- proof of marital status
- three months’ bank statement
- proof that you are the child’s primary caregiver
- UIF document if previously employed
- refugee status permit and ID if you are a refugee foster parent
- court order placing the child in your care if you are the child’s foster parent
War veterans grant
This is a grant for former soldiers who fought in the Second World War (1939-1945) or the Korean War (1959-1953) who are unable to support themselves. It is valued at R1880 per month.
Qualifiers
- south african or permanent resident
- must be living in South Africa
- 60 years or older or living with disability
- not on any other social grant and not cared for by state institution
- must not be earning more than R86 280 a year if you are single, or have a combined income of R172 560 if married.
- must not have assets more than R1 227 600 if you are single and R2 455 200 if you are married.
How to apply
Bring the following to the nearest SASSA office:
- ID document or proof of application for one
- proof of war service, e.g certification of service
- medical assessment or report stating that you cannot work if you are under 60.
- proof of marital status
Grant in Aid
This grant is for adults on a social grant who cannot look after themselves. It is an additional grant to pay the person who takes care of the adult, valued at R450 per month.
Qualifiers
- already on older persons, disability or war veteran’s grant
- not able to look after yourself, needing full-time care
- not care for in an institution receiving a subsidy from the government for your care.
How to apply
Bring the following to the nearest SASSA office:
- ID document
- Proof of marital status and spouse’s identity where applicable
- Medical report or assessment of no less than three months old showing the need for full-time care
Foster child grant
This is a grant to take care of foster children. It is valued at R1040 per month per child.
Qualifiers
- The applicant must be a South African citizen, permanent resident or refugee
- the child must be legally placed in your care and remain in your care
- the child must be under 18 years of age.
How to apply
Bring the following to the nearest SASSA office:
- Your ID and child’s birth certificates
- if you are a refugee, your status permit and refugee ID
- court order that placed the child in your care
- proof of your marital status
How are social grants paid?
SASSA pays all grants through the following methods:
- cash at a specific pay point on a particular day
- into your bank or Postbank account
- institutions acting as administrators of the grant
Social relief of distress
This grant is purposed at temporary assistance for persons in dire material need. Offered for up to three months and can be extended for another three.
Examples
- financial assistance while you wait for social grant to be processed
- natural disaster
- crisis, e.g house burning down
- do not qualify for a grant, but are in a desperate situation
- unable to work for a period less than six months because you are medically unfit
- unable to get maintenance from the other parent of your child
- imprisonment or death of breadwinner
What do you get
This grant differs per province. Aid may come in monety form or food vouchers. The R350 grants paid during the Coronavirus COVID-19 in 2020 are Social relief of distress grants.
How to apply
Bring the following to the nearest SASSA office:
- ID document and children’s birth certificate
- sworn statement/affidavit stating circumstances stating you:
- are applying for grant
- have had an emergency
- have no other support
How long does it take
- your application will be processed immediately
- even if you do not have all the documents, you will get you first month’s food parcel, voucher or cash
- take remaining documents, if any, to SASSA officer before second month’s payment
- if there is no change in your circumstance after three months, you may apply for a three month extension