As it stands, there are currently more than 18 million South Africans who depend on some form of permanent social grant.
These permament social grants include: the Old Persons Grant, Disability Grant, Care Dependency Grant, Social Relief of Distress Grant, War Veterans Grant, Foster Child Grant, Child Support Grant as well as Grant-in-aid.
Sassa also provides the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant which pays out R350 each month to qualifying individuals. The SRD grant was initially introduced during the peak of Covid-19 pandemic in May 2020. This grant is provided on temporary basis and is currently due to end on 31 March 2024.
However, the main focus here, is to guide you through how to submit an application for any of the above-mentioned permanent social grants for November 2023.
How To Apply For A Sassa Grant For November 2023
It is first worth noting that Sassa is aware that not every South African needs a permanent social grant. It is for this reason that you must ensure that you meet the agency’s eligibility criteria for permanent grants prior to applying.
You must visit your nearest Sassa office branch in order to submit your social grant application. This is where you will be provided with an application form to be completed in the presence of a Sassa official. The application process will be at no cost you.
You can also nominate someone to apply on your behalf if you are unable to do so due to illness or old age.
Applicants also have the option to arrange a home visit by a Sassa official to assist with their grant application if they are unable to do so for the above-mentioned reasons. The Sassa official will assist with completing the application forms, after which they will then provide a receipt as proof of the application.
The agency will also require the provision of supporting documents to accompany your application, depending on the grant you are applying for. This is with the exception of the Foster Child Grant, as it is paid out on the date of a court order.
Sassa will then issue a receipt with a reference number as proof that your application is complete. Sassa strongly recommends that this proof application be kept safe, as it validates a recipient's application.
How Sassa Determines Eligibility For Social Grant
The agency does this by conducting means tests to determine if an applicant’s alternative source of income or assets exceed the specified threshold. It is worth noting that being employed means an applicant is not eligible for a social grant.
However, the outcome of the Sassa means test must reflect that an applicant has very limited sources of income or assets based on their income eligibility criteria as listed below.
Here are the Sassa income means test requirements:
- Older persons, Disability, and War Veteran’s grant: Not earn more than R 92 520 a year (R7 710 a month) if you’re single. If you are married, your combined income shouldn’t be above R185 040 a year (R15 420 a month).
- Child support grant: Not earn more than R57 600 a year (R4 800 a month) if you’re single. If you are married, your combined income shouldn’t be above R115 200 a year (R9 600 a month).
- Care-dependency grant: Not earn more than R 238 800 a year (R19 900 a month) if you’re single. If you are married, your combined income shouldn’t be above R477 600 a year (R39 800 a month).
- Foster child grant: No Means Test Conducted.
- R350 SRD Grant: Individuals with a monthly income of more than R624 a month will not qualify for the grant.
Receiving Application Feedback From Sassa
Applications usually take a minimum of up 3 months to be processed, and if yours proves successful, your grant payment will be made from the month of the date on which your applied.
However, if your application is rejected, Sassa will inform you as to why in writing.
If this is the outcome, Sassa will allow you to submit an application appeal within 30 days of receiving the unsuccessful application status. Sassa will then reach out to you with feedback on your appeal within 60-90 days.
For any further queries, applicants can visit the Sassa website for information or contact Sassa directly on its toll-free number: 0800 601 011 for assistance and support.
