SASSA Grant-In-Aid [2024] - A Complete Application Guide

The social grants offered by SASSA provide financial stability to many citizens. It helps to fulfil their basic needs. If you are dependent on the grant money and don’t have any other income source, you might need more money to manage your expenses. For that, you can apply for SASSA’s grant-in-aid program.

If you are living on a social grant and you are unable to take care of yourself, you can get an additional grant to pay the person who takes full-time care of you. It should be certified by the medical officer that you need full-time care from someone else. The government will provide you with an additional monthly payment called a grant-in-aid.

To receive this grant you must be a beneficiary of an older persons grant, disability grant, or a war veterans grant and you require regular assistance from another person due to your physical or mental disabilities. It will be provided in addition to your other grants.

SASSA Grant-in-Aid Eligibility Criteria

To receive the grant-in-aid successfully, you have to qualify for it. You must fulfil the following eligibility criteria –

You must be the beneficiary of an old age grant, war veterans grant, or disability grant.
You must fulfil the eligibility criteria of the above main grants.
You have a mental or physical disability and you are unable to take care of yourself, so you need full-time care at home.
You must have a valid medical report or assessment report that shows you need full-time care The report should be from a private doctor and doesn’t have to be from a state doctor. The report should be less than 3 months old.

How much is the SASSA Grant-in-Aid Amount?

Previously the grant in aid amount was R500 per month. From 1 October 2023, all grant amounts increased. So as of 1 October 2023, the grant amount is R510 per month. It is expected that, from 1 April 2024 the grant will get an increase of R10 per month. This increase in the grant amount will be declared in the national budget speech.

How to apply for the SASSA Grant-in-Aid?

The application process for grant-in-aid is straightforward just like other social grants. You can apply for it either online or offline. To apply online, you have to go to the SASSA’s official service website and to do the application offline, you can visit the regional SASSA office.

The grant-in-aid application forms are not available anywhere else on the internet. When you visit the SASSA office, you will get the application form there. You must complete the application in the presence of the SASSA officer. So if you face any difficulty, the SASSA officer will assist you.

It is recommended to apply for the grant-in-aid at the same time as you apply for the old age grant, war veterans grant, or disability grant. If you are unable to visit the SASSA office because of sickness then you can appoint someone to legally apply and receive the grant on your behalf. The appointed person should bring the doctor’s note with him, explaining why you can not visit the office.

To prove your disability you have to submit a valid medical report or assessment report that shows you need full-time care at home. This report should be from a private doctor and does not have to be from a state doctor. The report should not be old more than 3 months.

Once your application is filled, submit it to the SASSA officer along with the medical report. The officer will interview you, take your fingerprint, and inform you if you qualify for the grant. You will also receive the dated stamped receipt from SASSA with the officer’s name on it as proof of your application.

Documents Required for Grant-in-Aid Application

When you visit the SASSA office, remember to take the following documents with you. You will need to show these documents when applying for a Grant-in-Aid –

Your 13-digit bar-coded South African Identity Document.
A valid medical report or assessment report that shows you need full-time care.
Proof of your marital status –
Marriage certificate and Spouse ID: If you are married
Divorce order: In case you are divorced
Death certificate: If your spouse is deceased
Affidavit: If you are a single
A complete and signed SASSA Grant-in-Aid affidavit form.

How much time does it take to process the SASSA Grant-in-Aid application?

Once you complete and submit your grant-in-aid application, it is sent for review. It may take from 30 days to 3 months to process your application. You will get the benefits of this grant only if your application is approved. If it is approved, you will get the payment from the day you applied.

If your application is not approved and got rejected then SASSA will share in written notice why your application got rejected. If you don’t agree with SASSA’s decision then you can submit the appeal against it.

How to check SASSA War Veterans Grant Status?

After the submission of your application, you must check its status regularly. You should know the status of your application if it is approved or declined. Along with the status, you can also check the grant payment dates. You can use the following methods to check the status of grant-in-aid.

Through the official SASSA website – https://srd.sassa.gov.za/sc19/status
Through the Moya App. If you don’t have internet access.
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 Grant-in-aid application is declined by SASSA?

If your first application for grant-in-aid was rejected then you have the right to ask SASSA for reconsideration of your application. If they reject your reconsideration request, then you can submit the appeal to the Department of Social Development, Independent Tribunal for Social Assistance Appeals (ITSAA). This appeal must be made within 90 days of receiving the notification.

If you don’t know how the appealing process works then you can get help from the regional SASSA office in this process. The board members of ITSAA will review your application. If they agree with your appeal then they will reverse the SASSA’s decision and you will start receiving the grant. If they reject the appeal then they will provide a written explanation of the rejection.

Payment Process for SASSA Grant-In-Aid

You will receive the grant-in-aid payment only if your application gets approved. Once your application is approved, you will start receiving the payment from the date you applied. The payment schedule is not fixed. SASSA releases the payment dates at the end of every month.

SASSA has given three ways that you can choose to receive your grant payment. Choose any one from the below methods –

Direct Bank Transfer: You can get your money deposited directly into your bank account using electronic transfer. The bank will charge you a service fee for this.
Cash Payment: If you want cash then you can get it at SASSA-appointed service providers like Shoprite, Pick n Pay, Boxer, Checkers, Usave, and Spar.
Institutions: You can receive your grant payment from specific institutions which are not SASSA-funded. (Ex. old age home, NGOs, etc)

To receive the grant payment in your bank account, you have to submit the SASSA bank account consent form. Along with that form you also need to submit the following documents –

Identity document as proof of your identity.
Your bank account number should be registered in your name.
Your last 3 months’ bank statement that clearly shows your name and account number.

If during the initial application, you submitted another person’s bank account then you should update your bank details as soon as possible to avoid the rejection of your application. If you are sick then you can ask your family members or friends to receive the grant on your behalf.

How to check the SASSA Grant-In-Aid balance?

If you are dependent on the grant money to fulfil your needs then you should keep track of your grant payment. You must manage your finances. You should regularly check your grant-in-aid balance. To do that you can use the following methods –

Dial the USSD code 1203210# or 12069277# on your cell phone
Visit your nearest ATM
Message on 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 reviews for Grant-In-Aid?

SASSA conducts the reviews to check if the grant holders still meet the eligibility criteria. These reviews are conducted based on the initial information you provided. Your grant-in-aid will be reviewed when your social grants (old age grant, war veterans grant, disability grant) are reviewed.

Through a review, the SASSA checks if you are still alive and fulfils the means test criteria. Generally, SASSA notifies you 30 days in advance of the date of the review or the date on which your life certificate is due. In the notice, the date and location of the review will also be mentioned.

If you cannot visit the SASSA office for review then SASSA will arrange a home visit for you. If you receive your grant payment in the bank or from institutions, you must submit your life certificate annually to the SASSA office. For refugee applicants, the review process is initiated when their refugee status expires.

Reasons for SASSA Grant-In-Aid Suspension

If there are any changes in your circumstances then it’s your responsibility to inform SASSA regarding those changes. Otherwise, it may result in the suspension of your grant. The following are the reasons for grant suspension –

You failed to cooperate when a grant was reviewed.
If your grant was approved in error.
Changes in circumstances (financial or medical)
The outcome of a review.
You committed fraudulent activity or misrepresentation.
You failed to submit the required documents.

Restoration of Grant-In-Aid

If you did not collect your grant for more than 3 consecutive months, or you failed to review your grant application then your grant may get suspended. In such a case, you have to make an application for the restoration of that grant within 30 days of the suspension.

Reasons for lapsing of Grant-In-Aid

Your grant-in-aid will be cancelled because of the following reasons –

If the beneficiary or primary care given dies.
You are admitted to a state-funded institution.
You are absent from the country for a period longer than 90 days.
If you cease to be a refugee.
If you did not collect the grant for 3 consecutive months.
You don’t need full-time care at home.

SASSA Grant Beneficiaries Responsibilities

If you as a beneficiary receive the grants from SASSA without any interruption then you should also fulfil some responsibilities. The main ones include –

Keeping SASSA informed of changes in your circumstances and means, and responding to any correspondence received.
Always safeguard your social grant card and do not divulge the PIN to anyone.
SASSA never requests the PIN in any dealings with the beneficiaries.
Always provide true and correct information, SASSA does not tolerate any fraudulent activities.

As a responsible SASSA grant holder, you must fulfil the above responsibilities. If you fail to do so, then your grant may get suspended and you stop receiving the grant benefits.

FAQs

If you are a social grant holder who requires someone to take care of you then SASSA offers grant-in-aid money so that you can pay your caretaker.

As of 1 October 2023, SASSA pays R510 per month for grant-in-aid.

To receive the grant-in-aid, you must be the beneficiary of disability grant, war veterans grant, or old age grant and you should be unable to take care of yourself and need someone who can take your care.

Conclusion

The SASSA grant-in-aid is very helpful for people who are unable to take their care. Because of sickness, old age or disability, you might need someone who can take care at home. But he or she will not do it for free. Using grant-in-aid money you can pay them for the work they do for you. If you fulfil the eligibility criteria then apply for grant-in-aid now!

SASSA Contact Details

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