To become eligible for the grant, you should either be a South African citizen or have permanent residency status. You should be a resident of South Africa. You must be 60 years old or have a disability. You should not be getting any other type of social grant for your personal use
South African citizens who served as soldiers in the Second World War (1939 – 1945) or the Korean War (1950 – 1953) are eligible for the SASSA war veterans grant.
To qualify for this grant, the applicant must be 60 years old or disabled and not receive any other social grant. The eligibility of the grant is determined by a means test, which evaluates the applicant’s income, assets, and other financial factors.
Eligibility Criteria For SASSA War Veterans Grant
Before applying for the war veterans grant, make sure that you meet the following criteria:
What is Means Test For The SASSA War Veterans Grant?
The SASSA means test is the method used to evaluate the financial status, including income, assets, and other financial factors of the applicants, to ensure that only deserving individuals receive the grant. As of 1 April 2023, there are two main thresholds:
Each grant type has different criteria for its means test to evaluate financial eligibility.
How much is the SASSA War Veterans Grant?
According to the April 1, 2024, SASSA grants increment, the war veterans grant is R2,200 per month for each person. The grant amount will increase to R2,210 per person per month from 1 October 2024.
How Much Does War Veterans Grant Cost?
Applying for War Veterans Grants is free of cost, and there is no service fee.
Procedure to Apply for the War Veterans Grant
You can apply for the SASSA war veterans grant in your nearest SASSA office branch by filling out their application form, or if you want to apply online, read the instructions on applying online through the SASSA services website.
If you are too old, sick, or have any disability issues and are unable to visit the SASSA office yourself, you can have a trusted family member or a friend apply on your behalf. The person applying on your behalf should take a letter from you along with a doctor’s note explaining why you cannot visit the SASSA office yourself.
The application forms are available at SASSA offices, and it needs to be completed in the presence of the SASSA officer. You can fill out the application yourself, but if you are unable to do so, the officer will assist you in completing the application form. The officer will also take your interview (or take the interview from your appointed person) and inform you if you are qualified for the grant.
After completing the application and interview, you will receive the dated stamp receipt with the SASSA officer name who assisted you in the application and the application reference number. Even if you are not qualified, you need to keep this receipt as proof of application.
Required Documents to Apply for War Veterans Grant
You must take the following documents (original or certified copies) along with you to the SASSA office when applying for War Veterans Grant:
Processing Time for the Application of SASSA War Veterans Grant
The processing time for the war veterans grant application is up to 3 months. The payments start after the approval of your application. Once the application is processed and your grant is approved, you will receive all the payments from the date you submitted your application. In case your application is not accepted, SASSA will issue a letter to you that clarifies the reasons behind the decision and guides you on how to start the appeal process.
What to do if your SASSA War Veterans Grant Application is not Approved?
If your grant application is rejected and you think the decision is incorrect, you have the option to ask SASSA to review your application once again. If the reconsideration request is also denied, but you still disagree with the decision of SASSA, you have the right to appeal the decision of SASSA to the Ministry of Social Development at the National Department of Social Development. You need to initiate the appeal process within 90 days of receiving the notification.
The Ministry of Social Development will review your appeal to make a decision. If they agree with you, they will overturn the SASSA’s decision, and you will start receiving your grant payments. If your appeal is denied, you will be provided with a written explanation of the decision.
Understanding the SASSA War Veterans Grant Payment Process
Once your War Veterans Grant receives approval, you will start receiving payments from the date you applied. SASSA releases the payment schedule every month as they don’t have any fixed dates.
SASSA will pay you the grant payments through the following three methods (You need to opt for one):
If you want to receive your grant payments through a bank account, you will need to complete the Consent Form for SASSA Grant Bank Payment and submit each of the following documents:
You can easily update your banking details or payment method whenever you need. You just need to head to the welfare office and fill out the form. However, the payments will be received through the new payment method from the following month after the verification is completed.
If you are unable to collect grants yourself due to being too old, you can nominate someone to collect payments on your behalf.
SASSA War Veterans Grant Balance Check
The SASSA balance check service allows you to check the remaining balance of your grant. Regularly reviewing your balance helps you stay informed about your funds, which can be helpful for managing your finances and using grant money wisely. After your war veterans grant application is approved and you start receiving grant payments, you may need to check your balance regularly by following methods:
SASSA War Veterans Grant Reviews
SASSA reserves the right to conduct a review of your grant, and it is based on the income you declared during the application process. The reviews are conducted to ensure that you still meet the means test criteria of the grant and that your circumstances are not improved yet. It is also to verify if you are still alive. To make the review process easier, you should always keep your application up to date whenever your circumstances change.
SASSA will send you a written notice before the three months of review or the deadline to submit your life certificate (proof that you are still alive). The written notification will also provide details about the date and location of the review.
For individuals who receive their grant through a bank, institution, or agent, you must annually submit the life certificate to the SASSA office. If you are bedridden, SASSA officials will visit your home to conduct the review. Upon the conclusion of your review, you will obtain a compliance receipt.
Grant Suspension Reasons
The following reasons may lead to the grant suspension:
Restoration of the Grant
If you believe that your grant was suspended in error or if you have a disagreement with SASSA’s decision, you have the option to submit an appeal to the Ministry of Social Development at the National Department of Social Development within 90 days of the suspension.
Reasons for Lapsing of War Veterans Grant
Your war veterans grant will lapse if one of the following conditions occurs:
Your social grant will be decreased to 25% of the maximum grant amount if you are placed in a state-contracted care institution. This adjustment will begin from the fourth month after you are admitted. Once you are discharged, your grant maximum amount will be re-initiated immediately.
Responsibilities of the Beneficiaries
As a SASSA grant holder, you also have some responsibilities to fulfill: