SASSA Disability Grant Application [2024]

The social grants offered by SASSA have become the only source of income for many South African families. The South African Social Security Agency is an agency of the Department of Social Development, which is responsible for offering various social grants like disability grants, old age pensions, SRD R350 grants, child support grants, etc.

The South African Government offers disability grants to provide financial assistance to persons with physical or mental disability. Having a physical or mental disability makes a person unfit to work and unable to support themselves. If you are not able to work for more than 6 months or are permanently unable to work, then you are eligible to apply for a SASSA disability grant.

The disability grant is one of the first social welfare schemes introduced by the South African government in the year 1937. There are two types of disability grants. Based on the medical assessment, the person can get either a temporary disability grant or a permanent disability grant.

Temporary Disability Grant:

If your disability lasts for not less than 6 months and more than 12 months, then you will get the temporary disability grant. If your disability to work continues even after 12 months, you have to renew the grant.

Permanent Disability Grant:

If your disability continues for more than a year, you will receive a permanent disability grant. A ‘permanent’ grant does not mean you will get a grant for life, but it will continue for longer than 12 months as long as your disability lasts.

SASSA Disability Grant Eligibility Criteria

To receive the disability grant, you must meet the following legal requirements and a medical assessment should also confirm that you can not work because of your disability. The medical assessment will decide if you receive a temporary or permanent grant. The eligibility criteria are as follows –

You must be a South African citizen, permanent resident, or a refugee living in South Africa.
You must be living in South Africa at the time of application.
Your age must be between 18 to 59 years.
You must have a valid South African Identity Document (ID)
You must not be a recipient of other social grants.
You must not receive any care in a state-funded institution.
You must meet the disability grant means test requirements.
You must be unfit and unable to work due to your physical and mental disability for more than six months.
If you are applying for a temporary disability grant, then your disability should last between 6 to 12 months.
If you are applying for a permanent disability grant, then your disability should last more than a year.
You have to undergo a medical examination, where a state-appointed doctor will assess your degree of disability.
You must bring your previous medical records and reports while you apply and have the assessment.
If you are single, then your yearly earnings should not be more than R86 280 and if you are married then your annual earnings should not be more than R172 560.
If you are single, then your assets should not be worth more than R1 227 600 and if you are married then your assets worth should not be more than R2 455 200.

What is the Means Test For the SASSA Disability Grant?

SASSA uses the means test to determine whether a person qualifies to receive a grant. The means test evaluates the person’s financial status, including their income and assets. As of 1 April 2023, SASSA has given two main thresholds.

1) Income Threshold:

If the applicant is single, their annual income should not cross R96 840
If the applicant is married, their yearly combined income should not be more than R193,680.

2) Assets Threshold:

If you are a single person then you should not own assets worth more than R1 372 800.
If you married then your combined assets should not be worth more than R2 745 600.

Each social grant has its own income and asset threshold to evaluate financial eligibility.

How much is the SASSA Disability Grant Amount?

As of 1 October 2023, the disability grant amount is R2 090 per person per month. The disability grant is paid on a sliding scale, which means the more private income you have, the smaller the government support you may qualify for. If you have a low private income, you will get the maximum money.

The social grants are meant for those who have insufficient means to support themselves and their family. So only needy people must benefit from such government help. Generally, the grant amount increases yearly and it is declared in the national budget speech or at the opening of Parliament. The disability grant is expected to get an increase of R10 from 1 April 2024.

How to apply for the SASSA Disability Grant?

As a part of the disability grant application, you have to undergo a medical examination from a state-appointed doctor. The state-appointed practitioner will assess your medical condition and determine the severity of your disability. They will check if you are unfit and unable to work and according to it, they will decide if you should get a temporary or permanent grant.

The medical practitioner’s task is to assess your medical condition only, the final decision is made by SASSA to award the disability grant. Along with the medical condition, other factors are also considered in awarding this grant.

After the completion of the medical assessment, you can apply for disability grant either online through the SASSA service website or by visiting your nearest SASSA branch and filling out the application form. Before you apply online, read all the necessary instructions.

If you are too old, sick, or disabled and unable to visit the nearest SASSA branch, then you can ask your family members or friends to fill out the application on your behalf. The person applying on your behalf is known as a procurator. The procurator can apply and receive the grant on the behalf of the beneficiary.

The application form for disability grant is available at the SASSA office. The form must be completed in the presence of the SASSA officer at the office itself. If you are facing any issues in filling out the application form, then you can get assistance from the SASSA officer to complete the application. They will also take your interview to check if you qualify for the grant.

After the application form is completed and submitted to the SASSA officer along with the required documents, you will get a dated stamp receipt from the SASSA officer with his name on it. Keep this receipt as a proof of your application. The application process is completely free.

Documents Required for Disability Grant Application

When you submit your application form at the SASSA office, you have to attach the supporting documents along with it. So when you visit the SASSA office, keep the following documents (original or certified copies) with you –

Your original 13-digit bar-coded identity document (ID). If you don’t have a valid ID –
You have to submit an affidavit in a standard SASSA format. You must complete this in the presence of the Commissioner of Oaths. The Commissioner is not a SASSA official and is not affiliated with SASSA. The SASSA official will provide you the affidavit form or you can download the form here.
You must bring a sworn statement signed by a respected and reputable person who can verify your name and age. A reputable person can be anyone like a counsellor, social worker, school principal, traditional leader, etc.
The SASSA official will take your fingerprints to process your application, and meanwhile, you will be referred to the Department of Home Affairs to apply for the ID. If you don’t get an ID, your grant will be suspended by SASSA.
Your medical report and functional assessment report, by the SASSA-recognized medical practitioner confirming your disability. The medical assessment must be conducted within the last 3 months from the date of application. It should not be older than 3 months.
Proof of marital status (if applicable)
Proof of residence (current address)
Proof of income, stocks or dividends (if applicable)
Proof of assets, including the municipal value of property you possess.
Proof of private pension (if applicable)
Your last 3 months’ bank statements.
If you are a refugee, then submit your refugee status permit and 13-digit refugee ID.
If you were previously employed, then submit an Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) document (Blue Book) or discharge certificate from your previous employer.
If your spouse died in the last 5 years, then submit a copy of the will and the first and final liquidation and distribution accounts.

How much time does it take to process the SASSA Disability Grant?

Once you submit the application form along with the above documents at the SASSA office, the work from your side is completed. Now SASSA will review your application. Usually, it takes 30 business days to 3 months to process your grant application. It may get processed early or delayed depending upon the number of applications received.

If your application gets approved by SASSA, you will be notified via SMS. You will receive the grant payment from the date your application is submitted. If your application is rejected, SASSA will share the reason behind the rejection.

How to check SASSA Disability Grant Status?

To receive the grant successfully, it is important to stay updated with your application. And you can do it via tracking your application. After the submission of your application, you should regularly check your application status. SASSA disability grant status check can be done easily either from the official website or using the status check tool. Below are some of the ways to check your application status –

Through the official SASSA website – https://srd.sassa.gov.za/sc19/status
Through the Moya App. This is the data-free method.
Via SMS to SASSA at number 082-046-8553
Through SASSA Whatsapp Number 082-046-8553
Contact SASSA Toll-Free number 0800-601011

What should I do if my Disability Grant Application is declined by SASSA?

If SASSA does not approve your application, you will be given a valid reason in writing why your application has been rejected. If you are unhappy with the SASSA’s decision, you have the right to ask SASSA to reconsider your application. If your reconsideration request is also denied then you can appeal to ITSAA.

You can appeal to the Minister of Social Development in writing, explaining why you disagree with SASSA’s decision and are unhappy about it. The appeal must be lodged within 90 days of being informed of the result of your initial application. If ITSAA finds you eligible, they will overturn the SASSA’s decision and you will start to receive the grant.

How to receive SASSA Disability Grant Payment?

You will receive the disability grant payment only if your application is approved. The payment dates are not fixed. SASSA releases the payment dates at the end of every month. You should specify your payment method at the time of application itself. You can’t get paid your grant through the following ways –

Direct Bank Transfer: Get an electronic deposit in your bank account or Postbank. The bank may charge you some service fee)
Cash Payment: You can get money in cash from SASSA-partnered retail outlets such as Pick n Pay, Shoprite, Boxers, Checkers, Usave and Spar.
Any institution that is not state-funded. Ex. Old age homes, disability centres.

If you are already receiving the grant payment, but want to change the payment method then you can do it at any time by filling out the form at the SASSA office. This change will take place only after one month. So you will receive the money in the updated method from next month.

If you collect the grant in cash, but due to sickness not able to collect it, then you can appoint someone to collect it on your behalf.

How to check the SASSA disability grant balance?

Once your application is approved and you start to receive the grant then it is important to manage the funds wisely. To manage the funds, it is necessary to know your disability grant balance. You can check it via any of the following ways –

Dial the USSD code 1203210# or 12069277# on your cell phone
Visit your nearest ATM
Using SASSA Whatsapp Number 082 046 8553
From the official SASSA website
Call the SASSA Toll-Free number at 0800 601 011

Why does SASSA conduct a review for Disability Grants?

SASSA provides social grants to help South African citizens financially. So it is important that only deserving people should get it. These grants are provided as per the means test. Your condition and circumstances may change. If it does, then in such cases you will no longer fulfil the means test criteria. This makes you ineligible for the grants. That’s why SASSA conducts periodic reviews to analyze your condition.

If your circumstances and means are changed then it’s your responsibility to inform the department. So keep your application updated. SASSA will notify you in written notice 3 months before the review to be conducted. The written notice includes when and where your review will be conducted.

If you are bedridden, then SASSA will arrange a home visit to conduct your review. Once your review is completed, you will get the receipt of compliance from the SASSA official. If you are receiving the payment via an institution then you should submit your life certificate to the SASSA office. The review of refugees will be done when their refugee status expires.

Reasons for SASSA Disability Grant Suspension

Your grant may get suspended for the following reasons –

Your circumstances have changed.
The Outcome of the review is pending.
You failed to cooperate when your grant was reviewed.
You committed fraud or misrepresent yourself. (SASSA has zero tolerance towards fraud)
If your grant was approved by mistake.

How to restore the disability grant?

If you think that your disability grant was suspended due to an error then you can reinstate it within 90 days of suspension. To restore your grant you have to submit an appeal to the Department of Social Development within 90 days of suspension. If you fail to appeal in 90 days then your grant will not be restored.

Reasons for Disability Grant lapse

Your disability grant will be cancelled due to the following reasons –

If the beneficiary has passed away.
If your temporary grant period is completed.
You failed to claim the grant for 3 consecutive months.
You are admitted to the state-funded institution.
You don’t live in South Africa anymore.
If the applicant is no longer a refugee.

The disability grant is based on a sliding scale. The more private income you have, the less grant money you will receive. So if you are admitted to state-funded institutions for more than four months, your grant amount will be reduced to 25% of the total grant.

SASSA Grant Beneficiary Responsibilities

If you are the SASSA grant beneficiary then you have some responsibilities –

If your personal or financial circumstances change then you should update the SASSA regarding it as soon as possible.
If your physical or postal address changes then inform the SASSA regarding it without any delay.
Always provide true and correct information as SASSA exercises zero tolerance for fraudulent activities.

As a responsible SASSA grant holder, you must follow the above three rules. If you fail to do so, then your grant may get suspended.

FAQs

SASSA disability grant holder receives a monthly payment of R2 090.

You can use any status check tool to check your grant status or you can visit the official website.

The SASSA disability grant application process is completely free.

Yes, SASSA arranges home visits for the beneficiaries who are bedridden.

The SASSA disability grant can be renewed only after a medical assessment. If the medical officer finds you unfit, they will let you renew your application.

If you are already getting other social grants then you can’t apply for a disability grant.

Conclusion

Life is uncertain and anything can happen at any time. You may lose your job because of your disability and if you are the only earning person in your family, then it will make the situation worse. To avoid this, SASSA provides financial assistance in the form of disability grants. So if you find yourself eligible for this grant then apply for it.

SASSA Contact Details

If you have additional queries or need any assistance with your disability grant application then you can reach out to SASSA directly via the following channels.