Eligibility Criteria:
- You need to be either a South African citizen, permanent resident or refugee.
- You must be resident in South Africa.
- You need to be aged 18 to 59.
- You are also required to submit a medical / assessment report that confirms your disability.
- The medical report should not be more than 3 months old at the time of application.
- You and your husband or wife will need to qualify on the means test.
- You are not kept in a state institution.
- You cannot be earning a social grant for yourself.
How to Apply for a Disability Grant?
If you are applying for a disability grant, you will need to be examined and assisted by a health professional who is accepted by SASSA. You will be medically examined by a doctor who will then advise SASSA as to whether or not your condition is severe enough to be eligible for a disability grant. It is SASSA’s decision to grant the grant or not, your doctor does not get to decide. Once a complete medical evaluation is completed, the process to apply can begin.
At the same time, an official from SASSA will help you fill in forms.
A disability grant will be paid if you qualify as prescribed and where the medical assessment indicates that you cannot work due to illness or disability. The medical assessment makes a distinction whether the benefit is awarded as a short-term or long-term benefit. The evaluation also indicates the need for future medical review.
Where do you go to Apply for a Grant?
- You take all of your documents to the SASSA Office closest to you.
- Also, if you are too old/ill to come to the office for a grant, a close relative or friend can apply for you.
- An SASSA official will help you fill in the application form.
- You will receive a receipt upon filling out your application.
- Keep this receipt — it is the only proof of your application.
- It doesn’t cost you a cent to apply.
- Otherwise SASSA must provide the reasons in writing for not approving your application.
- You are entitled to ask SASSA to review its decision if you are not satisfied with the decision. The second decision You have the right to appeal this decision to the Minister of Social Development, if the revised decision is not in your favour.
- An application to SASSA to have its decision reviewed will have to be based on the result of your application and will have to be received by SASSA within 90 days of your being informed of the result of your application.
Date of Award of Grants
As soon as your grant is approved, you will be paid from the date you applied.
If your Application is not Successful for a Grant
You need to be given in writing the refusal to be granted the grant and have the right to appeal the decision within 90 days from the date of the notice.
Payment Method
There are several different ways in which you may receive your grant:
- Pay points: Cash at Pre-determined Pay Points
- Bank including Post bank
- Institutions
Note: In case you cannot bring the grant personally, you can appoint an agent to submit the grant on your behalf.
Suspension of Grant
The following can cause the cessation of a grant:
- Change in life circumstances (financial, physical);
- Outcome of a review;
- To not co-operate when a grant is reviewed;
- Providing SASSA with incorrect information (fraudulent or misrepresented). or
- If the grant was an automatic grant by mistake.
Restoration of Grant
An application for restoration of a grant must be submitted within 90 days after the date of suspension.
Lapsing of Grant
Most common reason a grant lapses:
- Death of a beneficiary.
- Admission to a government institution.
- Or in the event that the grant is not drawn for any 3 successive months.
- Upon expiration of the period of temporary disability.
- You are non-resident in the Republic.
- If you cease to be a refugee.
Grant Reviews
At the time of application, you will need to declare all income and assets. If you do not submit the required information during the review your award will be put in suspense.
Reviews confirm a recipient meets conditions for continuation of the award. A review is to confirm that your situation has not changed from the time you applied for the grant or were last reviewed, and in some instances that you are still alive (provision of a Proof of Life).
You must be informed by SASSA in writing at least 3 months before the date of the review as to specifically where and when the review is to take place, and what could happen. Home care also is provided to beneficiaries who bedridden. When the job is finished you should receive a proof of compliance receipt.
His/her grant will be re-assessed by SASSA at the date his/her refugee status expires.
Responsibility of Beneficiaries
You must inform SASSA of any changes to your their circumstances and/or income. This includes updates on new changes or physical or mailing addresses. SASSA’s method of communication with you is via registered post. Non-response to communication sent by SASSA may lead to the termination of your grant.
Fraud
SASSA has a policy of not tolerating fraud and will clamp down on people fraudulently receiving grants.
What is a means Test?
Means testing deems that SASSA be required to assess the assets and income of the applicant for social assistance to establish whether the applicant’s means are not in excess of a defined amount. This means test is simply a way to ensure this and to check the eligibility of a person to get a grant as grants are designed for those who lack means to sustain them self. The means test differs between types of grants.