SASSA Grant-In Aid is a social grant from SASSA for current social grant holders who require full-time care at home and are unable to care for themselves independently. The grant will provide them with the resources they need to hire someone to provide full-time caregiving services.
Only disability grant, old age grant and war veteran grant holders can apply for grant-in-aid, and it will be provided as an addition to your current grant. You can apply for Grant-In-Aid at the same time when applying for the main grant.
Eligibility Criteria For The SASSA Grant-In Aid
Before applying for the Grant-In-Aid, you must meet the following eligibility criteria:
How much is the SASSA Grant-In Aid Amount?
According to the 1 October 2023 grant increase, the grant-in-aid is R510 per month for each person. The Grant-in-Aid did not increase this year, and its amount will remain the same throughout 2024.
How much does that Grant-In Aid Cost?
Applying for SASSA grant-in-aid is free of cost and there is not any kind of service fee.
Procedure to Apply for the Grant-In Aid
You can apply for SASSA Grant-In-Aid in your nearest SASSA office branch by filling out their application form. You can also apply online by following the instructions on Applying online through the SASSA services website.
The application forms are available at SASSA offices, and it needs to be completed in the presence of the SASSA officer. You are allowed to submit the application for the Grant-In-Aid along with your application for the disability grant, old age grant, or war veteran’s grant.
If you are too old, sick or have any disability issues, you may have a trusted family member or friend to apply on your behalf. The person applying on your behalf should take a letter from you along with a doctor’s note explaining the reason why you cannot visit the SASSA office yourself.
To apply for Grant-In-Aid, you will need to get a valid medical assessment report proving that you have a severe disability and need full-time care at home. The report can be from a private doctor or a state-appointed doctor, but it must be no more than 3 months old.
Once you have the report, you can go to the SASSA office and get the application form. You are required to complete the form in front of a SASSA officer. You may try to fill out the application yourself. In case you find it hard and confusing to fill it out yourself, then the officer will be here to help you in completing the application form.
Once you complete the form, submit it to the SASSA officer along with the medical assessment report. The officer will conduct your interview (or conduct the interview from your appointed person), take your fingerprints, and inform you if you are qualified for the grant.
After the complete process, you will receive the dated stamp receipt from the SASSA officer name who assisted you in the application. Even if you are not qualified, you need to keep this receipt as proof of application.
Required Documents to Apply for Grant-In Aid
You must take the following documents (original or certified copies) along with you to the SASSA office when applying for Grant-In-Aid:
Processing Time for the Application of SASSA Grant-In Aid
The processing time for the Grant-In-Aid 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 of application rejection, SASSA will send a letter with an explanation that why you’re not approved for the grant.
SASSA Grant-In Aid Status Check
Once your grant application is submitted, then you’ll also need to check the SASSA status regularly to stay updated. And the best part is that it can be easily trace by using status check to see if the application is approved, decline or what is the current status of your application. After the approval of the application, the status should be checked frequently to be updated about upcoming payments.
What to do next if SASSA Grant-In Aid Application is not Accepted?
If your grant application is declined but you believe that the decision was made in error, you can request the SASSA to reconsider your application. 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. The appeal must be filed within 90 days from the day the application is submitted.
The Ministry of Social Development will review your appeal to make a decision. If the appeal board agrees with you, they will reverse SASSA’s decision and you will start receiving your grant payments. If the appeal is denied then you’ll receive a written explanation of the appeal board decision.
Understanding the SASSA Grant-In Aid Payment Process
Once your grant is approved, you will start receiving payments from the date you applied. SASSA payment dates are released 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 bank account, you must fill out 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 the grant yourself due to any reason such as old age, disability, etc., you can nominate someone to collect payments on your behalf.
SASSA Grant-In Aid 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, aiding in financial management and informed grant money decisions. After your grant-in-aid application is approved and you start receiving grant payments, you may need to check your balance regularly by following these methods:
SASSA Grant In Aid 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. When your primary social grant (old age grant, disability grant, or veteran’s grant) is reviewed, then your Grant-In-Aid will also be reviewed.
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 including your application reference number.
The review process for refugee applicants will be initiated when their refugee status reaches its expiration.
Grant Suspension Reasons
The following reasons may lead to the grant suspension:
Restoration of the Grant
If you think your grant was suspended due to the mistake or you disagree with SASSA’s decision, you can lodge an appeal to the Ministry of Social Development at the National Department of Social Development within 90 days from the date of suspension.
Reasons for Lapsing of Grant-In-Aid
Your grant-in-aid will lapse if one of the following conditions occurs:
Responsibilities of the Beneficiaries
Being a SASSA grant holder, you are expected to meet certain responsibilities:
You must keep the SASSA updated in the above scenarios to avoid any interruption or suspension in your grants, as SASSA sends notices and updates to the address you submitted in the application. If your address or contact information is updated and you did not inform the SASSA, it may cause the suspension of your grants, as SASSA will not be able to contact you.