Chapter 7 - Social Welfare
Social grants for adults who are 18 years and older
There are four different state social grants - Older Person’s Grant, Disability Grant, War Veteran's Grant and Grant-in-Aid.
Social grants are available to South African citizens and permanent residents. In addition, refugees can access disability grants.
See What does South African citizenship mean?
Legal entry and staying in South Africa.
Older Person’s Grant (OPG)
In order to apply for an Older Person’s Grant the applicant must:
- be a South Africa citizen or a permanent resident
- be resident in South Africa at the time of application
- be 60 years or older
- if married, the spouse must comply with the means test
- have a valid identity document or produce alternative identification.
A person cannot apply for an Older Person’s Grant in the following cases:
1. if they are living or being taken care of by any of the following institutions which are wholly funded by the state:
- prison
- old age home and state treatment centre
- psychiatric hospital
- drug rehabilitation centre
A person can still apply if they are in an institution which is partially funded by the state; however the grant would be reduced to 25%.
2. If the applicant is receiving another adult social grant (unless it is a Grant-in-Aid).
Applicants for a grant must have proof of the following before applying:
- South African bar-coded identity document (to prove identity, citizenship and age)
- If single, an affidavit stating this fact
- Marriage certificate if the person is married
- Divorce papers if the person has been divorced
- Death certificate, if the husband or wife died
- If they are employed, a wage certificate
- If they are unemployed, any UIF record of registration, discharge certificate from the previous employer
- If they have a private pension, proof of the pension
- If they have a bank account, bring a bank statement of three consecutive months
- Proof of any other income and assets
Disability Grant
A disability grant is a social grant intended to provide for the basic needs of adults (people who are over 18 years) who are unfit to work due to a mental or physical disability. The applicant should not have refused to do work that they are capable of doing and should not have refused treatment. The disability must be confirmed by a valid medical report of a medical officer stating whether the disability is temporary or permanent.
Proof of disability
When an application is made for a disability grant, the SASSA officer will give the person a medical form to be completed by either a medical officer or an assessment panel. The medical person must write on the form what kind of disability it is and how long they think it will last.
The assessment by an assessment panel will take place if there is no doctor available. The panel will consist of medical people such as nurses, psychologists and social workers as well as community leaders such as chief magistrates or priests.
The SASSA officer sends the doctor's certificate in with the application form. The medical officers in SASSA look at the medical certificate or assessment and see if they agree that you are disabled. If they do not agree, they turn the application down.
A person can apply for a temporary disability grant where it is believed the disability will last between six months and a year, OR a permanent disability grant where it is believed the disability will last for more than a year.
The medical certificate for a grant may not be older than 3 months at the date of application.
In order to apply for a Disability Grant the applicant must:
- be a South African citizen, or a permanent resident or refugee
- be resident in South Africa at the time of the application
- be between the ages of 18 years and 60 years
- be unfit and unable to work because of the nature of your disability
- if married, your spouse must comply with the means test
- have a valid identity document or produce alternative identification
A person can still apply if you are in an institution which is partially funded by the state, and may then receive a partial grant.
You cannot apply for a Disability Grant in the following cases:
If the person is living or being taken care of by any of the following institutions which are wholly funded by the state:
- prison
- old age home and state treatment centre
- psychiatric hospital
- drug rehabilitation centre
- if they have refused to undergo medical treatment;
- if they are receiving another grant (unless it is a Grant-in-Aid).
Applicants for a grant must have proof of the following before applying for a grant:
- South African bar-coded identity document (to prove identity, citizenship and age)
- If you are under 60 years bring a medical assessment or report stating that you are disabled and cannot work
- If you are single, an affidavit stating this fact
- Marriage certificate, if you are married
- Divorce papers if you are divorced
- An affidavit if your spouse has deserted you for more than 3 consecutive months
- Death certificate, if your husband or wife died
- If you are employed, a wage certificate
- If you are unemployed, any UIF record of registration, discharge certificate from your previous employer and affidavit made at a police station to state you are unemployed
- If you have a private pension, proof of the pension
- If you have a bank account, bring a bank statement of three consecutive months
- Proof of any other income and assets
- If your partner died within the last 5 years, a copy of the will and the first and final liquidation and distribution accounts
War Veteran’s Grant
In order to apply for a War Veteran’s Grant the applicant must:
- be a South Africa citizen, or a permanent resident
- be resident in South Africa at the time of application
- be 60 years and over
- have fought in the First World War (1914-1918), the Second World War (1939-1945) or the Korean War (1950-1953)
- not be cared for in a wholly funded State Institution
- if married, your spouse must comply with the means test
Special grants have been introduced for war veterans who fought in the liberation struggle for a democratic South Africa. If a person thinks that they qualify they should contact their political party.
The Special Pension makes provision for individuals who made sacrifices in fighting for a democratic South Africa., In the event of the death of those who fought, their survivors may receive a pension or lump sum payment.
Applicants for a grant must have proof of the following before applying for a grant:
- South African identity document (to prove identity, citizenship and age)
- Proof of 'official war' service (discharge certificate or medals)
- If the applicant is under 60 years, they need to bring a medical assessment or report stating that they are disabled and cannot work
- If single, an affidavit stating this fact
- Marriage certificate, if the person is married
- Divorce papers if they are divorced
- An affidavit if the spouse has deserted the applicant for more than 3 consecutive months
- Death certificate, if their husband or wife died
- If the person is employed, a wage certificate
- If the person is unemployed, any UIF record of registration, discharge certificate from your previous employer and affidavit made at a police station to state you are unemployed
- If they have a private pension, proof of the pension
- If they have a bank account, bring a bank statement of three consecutive months
- Proof of any other income and assets
Grant-in-Aid
The Grant-in-Aid is a social grant intended to provide for the basic needs of adults who are unable to care for themselves and is certified by a medical officer to be in need of full-time care from someone else.
The Grant-in-Aid is provided as an additional grant to adults who are already receiving one of the following grants: Older Person’s Grant / Disability Grant / War Veteran’s Grant. The Grant-in-Aid is not paid out on its own – it must be in addition to a main social grant. Please note this grant is paid out to the person receiving the main grant, and not to their assistant. In addition, note that there is no means test for the Grant-in-Aid.
See Person receiving an Older Person’s Grant needs full time care.
In order to apply for a Grant-in-Aid you must:
- be a South Africa citizen, or a permanent resident, or a refugee in respect of the Disability Grant
- be resident in South Africa at the time of application
- be receiving an adult social grant
- require full-time care by another person due to a physical or mental disability.
- not be cared for in a wholly funded state institution
What do you need in order to apply?
- South African bar-coded identity document (to prove identity, citizenship and age)
- A medical report or medical assessment report (less than 3 months old)
- If single, an affidavit stating this fact
- Marriage certificate, if you are married
- Divorce papers if you are divorced
- Death certificate, if your husband or wife died
- If you are employed, a wage certificate
- If you are unemployed, any UIF record of registration, discharge certificate from your previous employer
- If you have a private pension, proof of the pension
- If you have a bank account, bring a bank statement of three consecutive months
Proof of any other income and assets
The means test for adult social assistance grants
Anyone applying for a social grant must qualify through a means test. This is a way of measuring a person’s income and assets. If the person applies for a grant, SASSA will evaluate their income and assets. If the income and/or assets are higher than the thresholds set by government, then they will not qualify for a social grant. The means test depends on their own income and assets if they are not married, and on the income and assets of the applicant and their spouse if married. Please note: It makes no difference if the applicant is married in community of property or out of community of property.
The income and assets thresholds set for the means test as of April 2011 are as follows:
Assets threshold
- A single person should not have assets totalling more than R752 400;
- A married person’s joint assets with his/her spouse should not total more than R1, 504 800,
The value of a house that a person lives in is not taken into account, regardless who it belongs to.
Income threshold
- A single person should not earn more than R44 880 per year; or R 3740 per month ;
A married person’s joint income with his/her spouse should not be more than R89 760 per year, or R7 480.00 per month The income of a spouse is taken into account whether you are married in or out of community of property. However, if your spouse has deserted you for more than 3 months, then the marital status of the applicant is not taken into account. In this case you would need to attest to the desertion with an affidavit.
For up-to-date information on the asset and income thresholds for the means test, check the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) website: www.sassa.gov.za., or the Black Sash website: www.blacksash.org.za
What counts as income?
Income means money you get from somewhere else. This can be:
- renting out a room in your house for a fee;
- leasing out any other property for a fee;
- from a private pension fund;
- earning money for work that you do;
- profits you make from farming or from any business;
- compensation for instance from UIF, Road Accident Fund or Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Fund (COIDA)
- financial support received from relatives such as dependent children;
- maintenance received as an ex-spouse or for a child
If one of the spouses already receives a grant, then that grant must not be counted as income when you apply for a grant.
A husband and wife can claim separate grants. If one of the spouses already receives an adult grant, then that grant must not be counted as income when you apply for a grant. If either of the spouses already gets a grant, then that grant must not be counted as income when the other spouse applies for a grant.
Your assets can be:
- the value of a house or land that you or your spouse own (if the property has a bond registered over it then it is regarded as having a nil value); remember that a home that you own is not counted as an asset if you live in it;
- bonds or loans or other outstanding debt;
- cash in the bank or any account with a bank or building society.
What can be deducted when calculating income?
You are allowed to deduct the following:
- contributions to a pension fund or retirement annuity;
- income tax that you pay;
- payments made to a medical aid;
- payments made to the unemployment insurance fund.
Who can not get a grant?
Even if you are old enough, disabled, or a war veteran, you may still not get a grant. A grant can be refused if you:
- already get another social grant (except in the case of a Grant-in-Aid which is only given to a person if they are already receiving either an Older Person’s Grant, Disability Grant or War Veteran’s Grant);
- are a mineworker who receives money in terms of the Occupational Diseases in Mines and Works Act;
- get money for permanent disablement from the COIDA;
- are kept and cared for in a wholly funded state institution (like a state-run nursing home, a hospital or a prison), although you may be entitled to a part if you are in a private institution which has a contract with the state;
- do not pass the means test.
How much money can you get?
The amount you get depends on your income.. The amount also changes each year with the annual government budget.
As from 1st April 2011 the following amounts will be paid per month:
- Older person’s grant: R1140 + R20 if older than 75
- Disability grant: R1140
- War veterans grant: R1160
- Grant-in-aid: R260
For up-to-date information on grant amounts check the website of the South African Social Security Agency: www.sassa.gov.za and click on ‘About Social Grants” then “Grants Amount’. You can also check the Black Sash website: www.blacksash.org.za
| <--- Previous section |