Overview Of Social Grants And Applying For A SASSA Card

Social Grants Overview

I understand that you’re looking for information about social grants in South Africa. Here is some information about the available grants and the means-testing process:

Child Support Grant: This grant is provided to caregivers of children under the age of 18. It aims to assist with the basic needs and expenses of the child.

Care Dependency Grant: This grant is intended for caregivers of children with severe disabilities, up to the age of 18.

Foster Child Grant: This grant is available to foster parents who take care of children in need of care and protection. It provides financial support for the foster child’s basic needs.

Disability Grant: This grant is for individuals with disabilities who are unable to support themselves financially due to their disability.

Grant in Aid: This grant is given to individuals who require constant care and attendance due to their physical or mental disabilities.

Older Person’s Grant: This grant is for South African citizens or permanent residents who are 60 years or older and need financial assistance.

War Veteran’s Grant: This grant is available to South African war veterans who have limited financial means.

Social Relief of Distress Grant: This grant provides temporary relief to individuals or families facing extreme financial hardship or distress.

Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress Grant: This grant was introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide temporary financial assistance to those who lost income or livelihood due to the crisis.

To be eligible for these grants, applicants must be South African citizens, permanent residents, or refugees currently residing in South Africa. Except for the Foster Child Grant and the Grant in Aid, most social grants are means-tested. This means that the value of your income and assets will be assessed to determine if you meet the eligibility criteria.

The means test varies for each grant and depends on marital status. If your income and assets fall below the specified threshold, you may be eligible for the grant. However, the amount you receive for grants like the Old Age Grant and the Disability Grant may not necessarily be the maximum offered by the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) as it depends on the means test results.

If you have some income or work but still require social assistance, you can still apply for a grant. In such cases, you must declare all your income and assets to SASSA. If you receive the disability grant, old-age grant, or war veterans grant, your monthly grant amount will be reduced based on your additional income.

Child Support Grant – Supporting Families and Children

The Child Support Grant in South Africa is valued at R480 per month starting from April 2022. To be eligible for this grant, you must meet the following criteria:

Primary Caregiver: You need to be the primary caregiver of the child who also lives with you in South Africa. If you are not the child’s biological parent, you must provide proof of your primary caregiver status. This can be in the form of an affidavit from a police official, a social worker’s report, an affidavit from the biological parent, or a letter from the child’s school principal.

Child’s Age: The child must be under the age of 18.

Non-Institutionalized Care: The child should not be cared for in a state institution.

Limit on Number of Children: You can apply for the Child Support Grant for up to six non-biological or legally adopted children.

In addition to these requirements, you also need to meet the means test criteria. The means test assesses your income and assets to determine if you qualify for the grant. The income thresholds for eligibility are as follows:

If you are single, your annual income must not exceed R55,200 (R4,600 per month). If you are married, the combined annual income of you and your spouse must not exceed R110,400 (R9,200 per month). Meeting the income requirements will determine if you qualify for the Child Support Grant.

Please note that the information provided here is based on the available knowledge up until September 2021. It’s advisable to verify the current requirements and guidelines with the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) or relevant government authorities for the most up-to-date information.

Care Dependency Grant – Empowering Those in Need of Care

The Care Dependency Grant, Foster Child Grant, and Disability Grant are social grants available in South Africa. Here are the details regarding each grant:

Care Dependency Grant: The value of the Care Dependency Grant is R1,980 per month from April 2022, and R1,990 from October 2022. This grant is provided to caregivers of children who are permanently and severely medically disabled. The child must be under the age of 18 and should not be cared for in a state institution. To qualify for the grant, you must meet the means test requirements. For single individuals, the annual income limit is R226,800 (R18,900 per month), and for married couples, the household income limit is R453,600 per year (R37,800 per month).

Foster Child Grant – Nurturing the Future of Foster Children

Foster Child Grant: The value of the Foster Child Grant is R1,070 per month from April 2022. To be eligible, both the caregiver and the child must reside in South Africa. The child must be under the age of 18, and there should be a court order designating her as the foster caregiver. There is no means test for foster parents, and the child must remain in the care of the foster parent.

Disability Grant – Empowering Individuals with Disabilities

Disability Grant: The maximum value of the Disability Grant is R1,980 per month from April 2022, and R1,990 from October 2022. This grant is for individuals between the ages of 18 and 59 who are medically unfit for work due to a mental or physical disability. The grant can be provided on a permanent or temporary basis (between six and twelve months). If your temporary grant expires and you are still unable to work, you can reapply.

The means test requirements for the Disability Grant state that for single individuals, the income limit is R87,720 per year (R7,310 per month), and the asset limit is R1,247,400. For married couples, the combined income limit is R175,440 per year (R14,620 per month), and the combined asset limit is R2,494,800.

Please note that the information provided here is based on the available knowledge up until September 2021. It’s advisable to verify the current requirements and guidelines with the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) or relevant government authorities for the most up-to-date information.

Grant-in-Aid – Extending a Helping Hand to Those in Need

Grant-in-Aid: The Grant-in-Aid has a value of R480 per month from April 2022. This grant is an additional allowance for individuals who receive disability, older persons, or war veteran grants but are unable to take care of themselves due to mental or physical disabilities. To qualify, you need to undergo an assessment by a medical officer. However, you cannot receive this grant if you are being cared for in a state institution.

Older Person’s Grant (Old Age Pension) – Honoring Our Elderly Citizens

Older Person’s Grant (Old Age Pension): The maximum value of the Older Person’s Grant is R1,980 per month from April 2022, and R1,990 from October 2022. If you are over the age of 75, you will receive R2,000 per month from April 2022, and R2,010 from October 2022. This grant is available for individuals who are 60 years or older. You cannot receive other grants concurrently, and you must not be under the care of a state institution.

The means test requirements state that for single individuals, the income limit is R87,720 per year (R7,310 per month), and the asset limit is R1,247,400. For married couples, the combined income limit is R175,440 per year (R14,620 per month), and the combined asset limit is R2,494,800.

War Veteran’s Grant – Recognizing and Supporting Our Veterans

War Veteran’s Grant: The maximum value of the War Veteran’s Grant is R1,980 per month from April 2022, and R1,990 from October 2022 (according to SASSA’s 2022 schedule). However, there seems to be a discrepancy with the 2022 Budget, which states that the average value of this grant in 2022 is supposed to be R2,005. To qualify for this grant, you must have fought in World War I, World War II, or the Korean War. You need to be over the age of 60 or disabled.

Similar to other grants, you cannot receive additional grants, and you must not be cared for in a state institution. The means test requirements state that for single individuals, the income limit is R87,720 per year (R7,310 per month), and the asset limit is R1,247,400. For married couples, the combined income limit is R175,440 per year (R14,620 per month), and the combined asset limit is R2,494,800.

Social Relief of Distress – Providing Assistance during Difficult Times

Social Relief of Distress: Social Relief of Distress is a temporary form of assistance provided in specific situations. It is available in the following circumstances:

Waiting for children’s grants: If you are waiting for your children’s grants to be processed, you can receive temporary assistance.

Crisis or disaster: If you have experienced a crisis or disaster such as a house fire, you may qualify for social relief of distress.

In desperate situations: If you are in a desperate situation but do not qualify for other grants, you can apply for temporary assistance.

Short-term disability: If you are disabled for a period of less than six months and do not qualify for a disability grant, you may be eligible for social relief of distress.

Lack of child maintenance: If you are unable to receive child maintenance from the other parent of your child or children, you can apply for this form of assistance.

Breadwinner’s death: If the breadwinner in your family has passed away, you may qualify for social relief of distress.

Breadwinner’s temporary absence: If the breadwinner has been temporarily sent to prison for a period of less than six months, you can apply for assistance.

Non-disaster affected areas: If you have been affected by a disaster, but the area or community where you live has not been declared a disaster area, you may be eligible for temporary relief.

Social Relief of Distress is provided for a maximum period of three months, with a possible extension of an additional three months in exceptional cases. It’s important to note that you cannot apply for this grant if you already receive a different grant.

Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress – Responding to the Pandemic’s Impact

Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress: The Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress grant pays R350 per month and was extended to run until March 2023. To qualify for this grant, you need to meet specific criteria:

Citizenship or residency: You must be a South African citizen, permanent resident, or refugee registered with the Department of Home Affairs.

Age requirement: You need to be above 18 years old.

Unemployment: You must be unemployed and not receive any income.

Social grant and UIF benefits: You should not be receiving any other social grant except for Child Support Grants, and you should not be receiving any UIF (Unemployment Insurance Fund) benefits or be eligible for such benefits.

Institutional residence: You must not be staying in a government-funded institution.

How to Apply for Social Grants – Accessing the Support You Deserve

To apply for the Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress grant, you can use various electronic methods such as WhatsApp, USSD, email, call center IVR, or the SASSA website. It’s important to provide accurate personal information and only share your banking details after the application has been approved. Never disclose your PIN number.

To apply for a social grant in South Africa, including the Child Support Grant, Care Dependency Grant, Foster Child Grant, Disability Grant, Grant-in-Aid, Older Person’s Grant, or War Veteran’s Grant, follow these steps:

apply electronically:

• WhatsApp 0600 123 456 and select “SASSA”
• USSD: *134*7737#
• Email [email protected]
• Call centre IVR: 0800 601 011
• Website: https://srd.sassa.gov.za

Locate the nearest SASSA office: Find the SASSA (South African Social Security Agency) office closest to your place of residence. You can search online or contact the SASSA helpline for assistance.

Complete the application form: Obtain an application form from the SASSA office. Fill out the form in the presence of a SASSA officer. If you are unable to go to the office due to age or illness, you can have a friend or family member apply on your behalf. Alternatively, you can request a home visit, although this may take longer.

Submit the application: Hand in your completed application form to the SASSA officer. Upon submission, you will receive a receipt as proof of your application. There is no fee for applying.

Required documents: Along with the application form, you will need to provide certain documents, including:

Proof of identity: Provide your 13-digit barcoded Identity Book or birth certificate. If you don’t have these, inquire at the SASSA office about acceptable alternative documents for proof of identity.

Spousal information (if applicable): If you are married, provide your spouse’s ID and proof of the spousal relationship, such as a marriage certificate, divorce order, sworn statement, or spouse’s death certificate.

Income and asset information: Submit a sworn statement or affidavit detailing your income and assets, as well as supporting documents to verify your income and assets. You may also need to provide proof of income for dependent children.

Application processing: The application process can take up to 90 days. During this time, your application will be reviewed. If approved, your first payment will include back pay for the waiting period from the date of application.

Notification and appeals: You will receive written notification regarding the status of your application. If your application is denied, you have the right to ask for reconsideration. You can also lodge an appeal within 90 days if necessary.

It’s important to note that the application process and required documents may vary slightly depending on the specific grant you are applying for. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, it’s recommended to contact your nearest SASSA office or visit their official website.

If your social grant application is approved, you will receive a SASSA card, which is associated with MasterCard. The SASSA card serves as a debit card and is linked to a bank account where your grant money will be deposited each month.

Your SASSA Card – Your Key to Availing Social Grants

With the SASSA card, you can use it for various purposes, including:

Making purchases: You can use the card to make purchases at any merchant or store where MasterCard is accepted. This allows you to conveniently pay for goods and services without incurring any transaction costs.

Checking your balance: The SASSA card enables you to check the balance of your grant funds. You can inquire about the remaining balance on your card to keep track of your available funds.

Withdrawing cash at till points: You can also withdraw cash using your SASSA card at selected till points where MasterCard is accepted. This allows you to access your grant money as cash without any transaction costs.

ATM withdrawals: Another option is to withdraw cash from ATMs using your SASSA card. However, please note that there may be transaction charges associated with ATM withdrawals. It’s advisable to check the fee structure with your bank or SASSA for specific details.

Depositing money: You and other individuals can also deposit money into your SASSA bank account. This provides flexibility if you receive additional funds or support from other sources.

If you have any questions or need assistance regarding your SASSA card or social grants, you can contact the SASSA Hotline at 0800 601 011. They will be able to provide you with further guidance and support.

For additional SASSA contact details or more specific information, it’s recommended to visit the official SASSA website or reach out to them directly for the most accurate and up-to-date information.