SASSA Old Age Grant – Eligibility, Application Process & More!
SASSA Old Age Grant( also known as old age pension) is a type of Social welfare that is established to provide Financial assistance to the old people of South Africa who have reached the age of 60 or older. The elderly person shouldn’t be able to support themselves financially and shouldn’t be able to work any longer.
Continue reading this post if you’d like to learn more about the Sassa Old Age Grant. It covers all the details, including eligibility requirements for seniors and the specific steps involved in submitting an online application. You will begin receiving the payment within the same month once you are approved for the SASSA Old Age Grant.
SASSA Old Age Grant Eligibility Criteria
Before applying for a Sassa Social grant, all applicants must confirm that they fit the eligibility requirements for that specific grant.
Eligibility criteria for the SASSA Old Age Grant are given below:
| Yearly Income | Monthly Income | |
| Single (Individual) | Not more than R96 840 | R8 070 per month |
| Married (combined income) | Not more than R193 680 | R16 140 monthly |
What is the Means Test for the SASSA Old Age Grant?
One of the most important tools available to a SASSA application for an old Age Grant is the Means test, which measures the Old People’s eligibility and confirms their right to financial assistance from the SASSA social agency Grant payments.
According to the SASSA’s last update on 1 October 2023, there are two main thresholds for the SASSA Old Age Pension grant:
Income Threshold:
Asset Threshold:
The means test criteria for determining financial eligibility vary depending on the type of Social Grant you are applying for.
How much amount is the SASSA grant for Older Persons?
The Sassa Older Person grant amount varies depending on the age factor, according to the last Sassa Payment increase on 1st October, the applicants between the ages of 60 and 74 receive a monthly benefit of R2 090 from the old age grant, while those 75 years of age and above receive a monthly payment of R2 110.
In short:
| 60 and 74 | R2 090 |
| 75 or above | R2 110 |
The old age grant monthly payments are anticipated to increase by R10 per person per month as of the future update on April 1, 2024.
How much does that old Age Grant Cost?
If you are concerned about the money invested in the SASSA Old Age then remember that there is no cost associated with applying for SASSA Old Age grants, and there is no service charge.
How to Apply for the SASSA Older Person Grant?
You can easily apply for the SASSA Old Age grant by visiting your nearest SASSA Center or if you want to apply for it Online then you can visit the SASSA Service portal from your browser and follow the steps provided there to apply through the Internet.
Note: For those who cannot visit the SASSA Office by themselves,
If you are too elderly, too unwell, or have any kind of impairment, you can have a friend or trusted family member apply on your behalf. A letter from you and a note from your doctor justifying your inability to visit the SASSA office personally should be provided to the person applying on your behalf.
Procedure to fill out the application form at the SASSA Office
You will also receive a dated stamp receipt with the name of the Sassa officer who helped you with the application after finishing the application and interview. Keep this receipt as proof of application even if you are not qualified as this also contains the SASSA reference number in it.
However, if you have lost your SASSA reference number then you can easily recover it by following the steps given in the above link.
Required Documents to Apply for Old Age Grant
Here is the list of the most important documents that must be with you when visiting the Sassa office to apply for an Old Age Grant:
Processing Time for the Application of Old Age Grant
It takes 90 days which is three months to process the SASSA Old Age grant then after reviewing your application they send you the message of approval so that from the month when your SASSA Older Person application is approved you will receive your grant payment by your SASSA New Card from the date you submit your application.
If your application is denied, SASSA will send you a letter explaining why the grant isn’t approved. After that, you can apply for the Sassa reconsideration form to review your application so that this time they can go through your eligibility criteria and approve your registration for the SASSA beneficiary.
SASSA Old Age Grant Status Check
To stay informed about your SASSA Grant Payment, you must check the status of your older person’s grant application frequently after submitting your SASSA application.
The greatest advantage is that it’s simple to track down by using a status check to find out whether your application was accepted or rejected and what its current status is. Once your older person grant is approved by Sassa then you can also view the current status of your Old Age grant payment through the SASSA Status check. Sassa Old Age grant status check can be done through the following methods:
Check Sassa Old Age Grant Status Online | Complete Procedure
If you want to check your Sassa Status Online, then follow the list of steps given below:
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What should you do if your SASSA Old AgeGrant application is denied?
If your SASSA Older Person Grant application is declined then you have the opportunity to apply for an SASSA reconsideration application, but if in case your SASSA reconsideration request is also denied then you have the choice to appeal the decision of SASSA to the Ministry of Social Development at the National Department of Social Development.
Important note: Within 90 days of the application’s submission, the appeal must be submitted.
To reach a decision, the Ministry of Social Development will examine your appeal. If they find it in your favor, they will reverse the SASSA’s decision and you will begin to get your grant money. You will receive a written explanation of the decision if your appeal is rejected.
Understanding the SASSA Old Age Grant Payment Process
Once your SASSA Old Age Pension application is approved you will start receiving your SASSA payment from the date you applied, the date of your Payments is not fixed, however every month SASSA announces the new SASSA Payments dates.
Don’t be concerned if you’re wondering how Sassa will deliver your grant payments; I’ve covered the three crucial ways that SASSA Beneficiaries get their grant payments each month. (You can opt for any One)
Straight deposit into your Postbank or bank account. You might be required to pay a service fee to the banks.
Cash withdrawals of your grant payment are available at retail locations linked with SASSA, including Pick n Pay, Shoprite, Boxer, Checkers, Usave, and Spar.
From some specific institutions (e.g., old age homes, disability centers, Non-profit organizations).
Now those people who want to receive their SASSA Payment through a Bank account, first they need to you will need to complete the Consent Form for Bank Payment of SASSA Grant and submit each of the following documents:
If in case you can not go by yourself to collect your SASSA Payment then you have an option to send someone else on your behalf to receive your SASSA older person grant Payment.
By completing a form at the welfare office, you can change your banking details or mode of payment at any time. However from the following month, once the verification is finished, the payments will be accepted using the new payment process.
SASSA Old Age Grant Balance Check
If you want to do your SASSA Balance check for your remaining Sassa grant payment then you will learn here a fast and easy way. Through the SASSA Balance check you can learn the amount of cash you have in your Sassa account and you can also be updated about your funds. Following the approval of your older person’s grant application and the release of grant payments, you might have to check your balance regularly by using the following methods:
SASSA Old Age Grant Reviews
The South African Social Security Agency reserves the right to examine the grant that you received, this is usually related to the statement of the income you have submitted to the SASAS during the time of submitting your application. Sassa review your status for the old age grant to confirm that you are still meeting the eligibility criteria for receiving financial aid and to also check if you are still alive.
Therefore you have to keep your SASSA application updated so that it can make your review process easier and ensure a smooth delivery of your SASSA Payment. Before the three-month review period or the deadline to submit your life certificate (documentation that you are still alive), SASSA will provide you written notice. The review’s date and place will also be specified in the written notification.
People who receive SASSA payments through banks or institutions, If you get your grant through a bank, organization, or agency, you have to bring your older person’s life certificate to the SASSA office every year. SASSA representatives will come to your home to review if you are bedridden. After your evaluation is complete, you will receive a compliance receipt.
Following the expiration of the applicant’s refugee status, the review procedure for applicants will begin.
Grant Suspension Reasons
Your Sassa grant may be suspended due to the following reasons:
Restoration of the Grant
In case of your SASSA grant Suspension is unjustified and you believe that it is suspended in error then you have the choice to appeal to the Ministry of Social Development at the National Department of Social Development within 90 days of the suspension.
Reasons for Lapsing of the Old Age Grant
The SASSA Grant will cease its Payment for the older person’s Monthly Support if;
If you are admitted to the state station for more than four months, your grant amount will be lowered to 25% of your total. As soon as you are discharged, your grant will be reinitiated to the maximum amount.
Responsibilities of the Beneficiaries
As the recipient of a SASSA Older Person Grant, you also have specific responsibilities to fulfill:
Honesty and Integrity in Application: Recipients of social grants are required to submit honest and truthful applications regarding their circumstances. Applications that are fraudulent or misleading may incur fines or forfeit benefits.
Reporting Changes in Circumstances: Recipients must notify SASSA of any changes to their circumstances as soon as possible, as this could impact their eligibility for the social grant.
Compliance with SASSA Regulations: For social grants to be administered and distributed, recipients must abide by all guidelines established by SASSA. This could involve other procedural rules, documentation requirements, and application renewal deadlines.
South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) Help Center:
If in case of any query or problem arise then you do not have to worry about it as SASSA provides one of the best social service platforms for their people so that they can get authentic guidance from the Sassa Management Staff. You can get information related to the dates of payment, all government grants must meet certain criteria, addresses and phone numbers for district offices, help with your application, and any incidents of fraud or corruption must be reported.
If you have additional questions, feel free to reach out to SASSA through the following channels: