Types of SASSA Social Grants – Eligibility Payment Dates and More!
SASSA is one of the biggest Social agencies in South Africa that is assisting more than 18 million people financially through SASSA Social Grants, through these grants poor and eligible people get their monthly pay from the government based on their eligibility criteria for a specific Grant. For Example, people more than 60 years old are eligible for the Old Age Grant.
In this post you will easily identify the essential points about each grant and which of them can perfectly suit your requirements so that you can conveniently opt for the better option. Moreover, in this article, I will also mention the new Payment details for each of the grants and its Eligibility Criteria.
Latest Update For Beneficiaries:
According to the most recent increase, which occurred in October 2023, the new increase arrived in April 2024 after six months, the government has increased its social grants payment once again from April 2024 as stated by the Financed Minister Enoch Godongwana during his speech about the 2024 Budget in Cape Town.
Understanding about SASSA Social Grants
Social grants are funds provided by the South African Social Security Agency. These funds include grants for people with disabilities, grants for the elderly and veterans of war, grants for foster children, awards for care dependency, and grants for child support. Both grant-in-aid and top-up.
Social grants are intended to raise the standard of living for those in society who are at risk of poverty and require government assistance. Those who are older, disabled, or have small children are typically among them.
In this post, you will learn everything about Social grants from their Eligibility Criteria to their Registration process, therefore continue reading this article. Before that if you are already an approved SASSA applicants and have not checked your SASSA status then you can check your SASSA Payment Details Online through the link button given below:
There are a total of eight grants as SASSA Social Grants in South Africa, As a result of the similarities and differences in requirements among the eight Social Grants that SASSA has developed in South Africa, we shall examine them one after the other.
Before moving further remember this thing that you can only able to apply for these grants if you are a permanent resident or a recognized refugee of South Africa and have your Identity Card with you which is the key factor for any Kind of Grant in SASSA.
No 1: SASSA Social Relief Distress SRD R350 Grant
SASSA Social Relief of Distress is also known as “Temporary Assistance”, which is provided to a person who is in dire need and can not able to fulfill the basic needs of life for his family. Due to the grant’s inception date, it was first known as the Covid-19 srd Grant; however, due to its increased validity, it will now continue until April 2025.
Moreover, recently the finance minister in South Africa has made great news for all the SRD Beneficiaries that they will receive an increase Payment of R 370 From April 2024.
Eligibility Criteria for the SASSA SRD Grant Payment:
Approved and Permanent Resident of South Africa or a well-recognised refugee,
The applicant is waiting on the approval of a social grant;
the breadwinner has been assessed as disabled for less than six months;
the household’s breadwinner has passed away and the application is submitted within a year of the death;
the breadwinner has been hospitalized for a minimum of one month; the breadwinner does not receive any support from someone who is legally required to provide for him or her;
The applicant has experienced a disaster,
The applicant may be eligible for the R350 monthly social relief of distress grant provided they meet the standards outlined in the SRD procedure manual and demonstrate an unjustifiable hardship.
Important tips and Reminders for SRD applicants
Update Your Information: You can use the SASSA SRD site to update your information if your circumstances change (for example, if you get a job or you change your Banking details), or you can get in touch with SASSA directly.
Accuracy of Information: To prevent delays or disqualification, make sure all the information you submit during the application process is true and accurate.
Application Window: Keep in mind that, depending on government policy, the dates for opening and closing SRD R350 grant applications may vary.
Scam Alert: Exercise caution. Avoid giving personal information to unreliable sources and submit your application directly through the SASSA’s official methods.
Note: Monthly Social Relief of Distress payments are made for a maximum of three months. A further three-month extension at a time might be approved if the candidate satisfies the requirements.
No 2: SSSA Older Person Grant
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.
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.
As per the latest Update From April 2024, the SASSA Old Age Grant will be increased by R100 which will be given to the applicant in two parts for more details you can check out the SASSA Social Grant increase for this Month.
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:
You must be a permanent South African citizen or a well-known refugee.
You must be living in South Africa.
Your age should be 60 or older than this.
You must not be receiving any financial assistance from another state
Must not be living in a state institution.
Both partners must comply with the Means Test.
The worth of your Total Assets(If Single): do not exceedR1 372 800
The worth of your Total Assets(If Married): do not exceed R2 745 600
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
The Necessary Thing to Remind For Older People Grant
Verify Eligibility: Make sure you meet all the requirements before applying. You must be 60 years of age or older, a citizen or lawful permanent resident of South Africa, and not receive any other form of social assistance.
Assemble the necessary paperwork in advance. This contains your 13-digit barcoded ID document and, if relevant, your spouse’s corresponding documents. If you don’t have a birth certificate or ID card, be aware of the alternate identification techniques that SASSA has recommended.
Update all your Personal details: Any changes to your address, marital status, or financial circumstances should be reported to SASSA right away to guarantee that your grant is processed smoothly.
Apply after verifying your eligibility: When you turn 60, you will be entitled to apply. Apply as soon as possible to minimize any delays in obtaining your grant. The earlier you submit your application, the better, as processing periods can vary.
No 3: SASSA Disability Grant
The SASSA Disability Grant in South Africa is specifically formed for a person who is mentally or physically disabled and did not work for six months due to his disability so that SASSA can provide them financial Support.
The grant has a monthly payout amount of R2090 Which is Now increased by R 100 from 1st April 2024 but just like the old age grant it will also be given in two parts.
Eligibility Criteria to be Part of the Disability Grant
You have to be between the ages of 18 and 59.
A medical or functional assessment report verifying your handicap needs to be in your possession.
It is necessary to present clinical data or a referral form attesting to the disability.
Both you and your partner need to clear the Means Test.
You shouldn’t be living in an establishment supported by the state.
There should be no other social grant that you are getting.
Send in your 13-digit ID documents with barcoding for both you and your partner. If your birth certificate and ID card are not available, confirm your identification using the procedure advised by SASSA.
The new payment amount for the disability grant is R R2,190 which is the increased amount of R, 2090. If you are also eligible for this grant then you can visit the SASSA Disability Grant and know the full procedure to apply for it Online.
Important things you need to know about the disability grant
Go through Your Medical Assessment: The first step for Applying for the Disability Grant is to undergo a medical examination from a doctor appointed by the agency.
Meeting all the Means Test requirements: To verify your eligibility, this test evaluates your financial status. It can be easier to obtain the required financial records if you are aware of the criteria ahead of time.
Collect all the important Documents and apply them in Person: In addition to your medical records, make sure you have the necessary identity documentation for you and your partner. If you already do all of the above procedures in advance then it saves your time and money for visiting earlier and this time you can just go and apply with all the important paperwork easily.
Update all your details: Any changes to your address, marital status, or financial circumstances should be reported to SASSA right away to guarantee that your grant is processed smoothly.
Protect Yourself from Scams: Exercise caution around people or companies that offer to accelerate your application in exchange for a cash payment. Use the official SASSA channels for any inquiries and applications.
Think About Direct Deposit for Payments: Direct depositing your award funds into a bank account might be convenient and lower your chance of theft. Make sure SASSA has accurate banking information.
No 4: SASSA Child Support Grant
The Sassa Child Support Grant provides financial support to the primary caregiver of a child under the age of 18. The child’s parents, grandparents, or any other head of the household may serve as the primary caregiver, but he or she must be older than 16 years old.
Eligibility Criteria for Child Support Grant
The applicant must live in South Africa, as must the child.
The child’s birth certificate is required.
For both you and your spouse, a smart ID card or 13-digit barcoded identity document must be submitted. An alternate form of identification approved by SASSA is admissible if a birth certificate or ID is not available.
The applicant must look after the child or children as their primary caregiver.
The candidate and spouse must both fulfill the requirements of the Means Test.
A child support award cannot be obtained for more than six children.
The youngster cannot be in a state-run care facility.
If the child is old enough to start school, attendance is required, as is documentation of it.
The Child Support Grant was raised from R510 to R530, representing an R20 increase. April 1st, 2024 is when this adjustment will go into effect. For a child, the R250 top-up remains unchanged. The child support grant applicants will therefore now get the top-up payment plus a total monthly grant amount of R780.
For further details and if you want to know the Procedure for Online Application then check out the SASSA Child Support Grant.
The necessary thing to Remind For Child Support Grant:
Verify Eligibility: Before submitting, make sure you and your child fit the qualifying requirements by carefully reading over the requirements. This covers things like age restrictions, South African residency, and Means Test-based financial evaluations.
Proof of School Attendance: Although it’s not a requirement, having recent school attendance records or proof of registration for children enrolled in school will speed up the application process.
Keep Up with Updates: Procedures, grant amounts, and policies are subject to change. Ensure that your information is up to date by staying informed about any announcements made by SASSA regarding the Child Support Grant.
Guard Against Scammers: Be cautious of con artists preying on social grant applicants. No application costs are necessary, and all applications must be submitted via the official SASSA channels.
No 5: Foster Child Grant
SASSA Foster Child Grant is a type of grant that is specifically designed to provide financial support to the Foster Child’s Parents. The grant payment will be distributed to the child till the age of 18 after that SASSA will stop granting further payments.
Eligibility Criteria for Foster Child Grant:
The primary caregiver must be a South African citizen, permanent resident, or refugee.
Both the applicant and the child must reside in South Africa.
The applicant must be the Foster Parent of the child concerned, and the child must be taken care of by them.
The following conditions must be met for the foster child to be placed in your custody by a court order:
being orphaned,
desolated,
tortured,
neglected,
or at risk.
The age of the Foster Child must be under 18 years old.
The child should be meeting the Means test criteria for approving eligibility.
The Child Support Grant was raised from R1,050 to R1,100, representing an R50 increase. April 1st, 2024 is when this adjustment will go into effect.
Important Notice: Make an appointment with a social worker from the Department of Social Development before applying for a foster child grant. The social worker will issue a court order verifying that you are the child’s legal foster parent.
If you want to know more about the means test requirement for the foster Child Grant or how to apply Online then you have to check out the SASSA Foster Child Grant Application Procedure so that you can understand everything in detail.
No 6: SASSA Care Dependency Grant
The Sassa Care Dependency Grant provides financial support to the primary caregiver of a child with mental or physical disabilities, in this case, the child must be getting full-time care at his home rather than in any other Social institution.
SASSA Care Dependency Grant Eligibility Criteria
Before applying for a Sassa grant, all applicants must confirm that they fit the eligibility requirements, which are listed below.
The primary caregiver must be a South African citizen, permanent resident, or refugee.
You must be a parent, a primary caregiver designated by law, or a foster parent of a kid under the age of eighteen.
The child or children in need of care cannot be kept in a state institution on a long-term basis.
Both the Child and caregiver must be residents of South Africa.
The applicant must submit the medical statements, proving the permanent and severe disability of a child.
Except for foster parents, the candidate and spouse must fulfill the means test conditions.
You shouldn’t make more than R249 600 (or R20 800 a month) a year. If married, the combined yearly income cannot exceed R499 200 (or R41 600 monthly). The foster parents are exempt from this requirement.
Some important Tips and Requirements to become a part of the Care Dependency Grant
Here are some of the important steps that must be considered if you want to receive monthly aid from the SASSA Care Dependency Grant:
Verify Eligibility Criteria: Verifying the dependent’s age under eighteen or their requirement for full-time care due to a permanent handicap is part of this process.
Medical reports: Obtain thorough evaluations and reports from the doctors that explicitly state the dependent’s status.
Arrange the Necessary Documentation: Make sure you have the birth certificate for the dependant, any required medical evaluations, and your smart ID card or 13-digit barcoded identity document handy. If standard identification documents are not available, become familiar with other SASSA-accepted procedures.
Recognize the Means Test: be familiar with the Means Test requirements, which evaluate your financial status to determine your eligibility for the grant.
Apply as soon as you can: As soon as you have obtained all required paperwork, begin the application procedure. Given the processing times and the often urgent need for financial support, this is very crucial.
Ask for Help When You Need It: Please don’t hesitate to ask for assistance from the Sassa helpline or the team staff if you run into any difficulties with the application process.
The Sassa Care Dependency Grant has also increased by R100 and the amount that was previously given R 2,090 will now be given R 2,190 from 1st April.
No 7: Sassa Grant in Aid Grant:
The SASSA Aid In Grant is a social grant offered by SASSA that provides extra support to recipients of SASSA Grants. A person may apply for a grant in aid if they require full-time care because they are unable to take care of themselves at home. You can easily apply for the Grant In-aid at the same time while applying for the primary grants.
SASSA Grant In-Aid Eligibility Criteria
Before applying for a Sassa grant, all applicants must confirm that they fit the eligibility requirements, which are listed below.
The applicant must be a citizen of South Africa.
You must also provide a current medical report or assessment report (less than 3 months old) demonstrating that you require full-time care.
You must be the recipient of other Sassa’s grants like old age grants, War veteran grants, or disability grants.
You must be meeting all eligibility requirements, including the means test, for your main grants.
You must not be receiving any financial support from the state institutions.
You must be unable to care for yourself as a result of a serious mental or physical handicap and require full-time home care.
You will get a top-up payment of R510 each month with your current grant amount once your grant-in-aid is authorized. For more specific information and the application procedure, please see the SASSA Grant-In-Aid article.
Sassa War Veterans Grants was especially started for helping those needy soldiers of South Africa who had taken part in the 2nd World War and Korean War, this Grant was established for the soldiers who are above the age of 60 and could not take good care of themselves.
SASSA War Veterans Grant Eligibility Criteria
Before applying for a Sassa grant, all applicants must confirm that they fit the eligibility requirements listed below.
To be eligible for the War Veteran Grant, a person must be a South African citizen, permanent resident, or refugee.
An applicant must reside in South Africa.
The applicant must be older than 60 and face any kind of disability.
You must not be receiving any kind of other social help from government initiatives
There should be no state-run care facility supporting you.
You and your spouse need to follow the guidelines for the means test.
If you are unmarried, your yearly income cannot exceed R96 840 (or R8 070 monthly). If two people are married, their combined annual income cannot exceed R193 680 (or R16 140 per month).
Your assets should be worth less than R1 372 800 if you’re single. Furthermore, if you are married, the total worth of your assets shouldn’t be more than R2 745 600.
The SASSA War Veterans Grant amount has also increased by R100 and the amount which was previously given R R2,110 will be given R 2,210 from April 1st.
Here are some of the most informative and Amazing Tips about the application in SASSA War Veterans Grant
Verify Your Eligibility: This covers being hurt in combat or being incapacitated as a result of such service; in certain situations, age or financial limitations may also be relevant.
Recognize the Means Test: To make sure you meet the requirements, you must evaluate your assets and income. This portion of the application can be completed more quickly if you have your financial information ready.
Consult Veterans’ Associations for Assistance: Assistance with benefit applications is provided by numerous veterans’ societies and organizations to former service members. They can offer helpful direction, encouragement, and advocacy all through the application process.
Make Sure Your Medical Records Are Complete: Make sure the information in these documents is accurate, and comprehensive, and explains how your condition impacts your day-to-day activities and employment prospects.
Maintain Copies of All Files Received: Make copies of all the paperwork you send to SASSA, such as your identification documents, medical records, and application form.
These are some of the main features that are discussed to you still if you face any type of challenges or difficulty in understanding the application procedure then Please read my SASSA War Veteran’s Grantarticle for more details and the application procedure.
How and Where to apply for these SASSA Grants?
You can apply for any SASSA grants through the SASSA office that is Nearest to you. If you want to know the complete procedure for how to submit your application for these grants then check out the full details in the links given below:
Additionally, take a moment to read the instructions below as a fast reference to help you apply with ease.
If you are too old or sick to travel to the office to apply for a grant, then a family member or friend can apply on your behalf; with a letter from you as applicant authorizing the application;
Your application form will be completed in the presence of an official from SASSA unless it was done online;
When your application is completed you will be given a receipt or reference number;
Applications for older person grants, child support grants, or foster child grants can be done online at https://services.sassa. gov. za
Keep this receipt/reference number as it is your only proof of application;
You do not have to pay any money to apply;
If your application is not approved by SASSA, you must be informed in writing as to why your application was unsuccessful;
You have the right to appeal the decision
The staff at the local office will advise on the process to follow. Date Of Grant Application.
It will take SASSA anywhere from 30 to 90 days to assess your application after it is submitted. The length of time varies based on how many applications they currently receive and how complicated your application is. SASSA will tell you by phone or email as soon as your application is examined and a decision is made.
Remember the following tips to Keep Safe while collecting your payment
Watch out for anyone that lingers near the ATM and make sure you’re not being followed.
Regularly check your balance, and notify your bank right away if anything seems off.
Once your transaction has been properly completed, exit the ATM location right away. When a stranger asks you to come back and complete the purchase because they are unable to transact, proceed with caution. Maybe they’re just skimming your card.
Some con artists wait to profit until after you’ve taken out your money.
Before leaving the ATM, take your time finishing the transaction and putting your card and cash in your pocket, purse, or wallet.
What circumstances might lead to the rejection of your SASSA application?
Your SASSA application may be rejected for a variety of reasons, but the most frequent and widespread one is that the applicant applies for a different form of grant rather than the grant for which they are eligible. Therefore whenever you want to apply for a Grant, you must check the Eligibility Criteria of all the grants and apply for the one that is meeting your circumstance the most.
It will facilitate the expeditious approval of your grant, and upon approval, you will begin receiving funds on the same day that you submitted your application. Please read the SASSA appeal procedure to find out why your grant application could have been denied and how to reapply for the grant you were denied.
Conclusion
Understanding the different types of SASSA Social Grants is essential for South African residents who need financial support, these grants are designed to assist vulnerable groups such as the elderly, disabled, and caregivers of children. Eligibility criteria, payment details, and application processes vary for each grant, so it is crucial to carefully review the requirements and provide accurate information when applying.
