Sassa provides over 18 million permanent social grants monthly, including the Older Persons Grant, Disability Grant, War Veterans Grant, Care Dependency Grant, Foster Child Grant, Child Support Grant, Child Support Grant Top-Up, and the Grant-in-Aid.
General Sassa Grant Eligibility Criteria
Each grant has specific requirements, but general eligibility rules apply across most Sassa grants:
- Applicants must be South African citizens, permanent residents, or recognised refugees living in South Africa.
- Most grants are subject to a means test, which evaluates income and assets to determine eligibility and the grant amount.
- Applicants may not receive more than one social grant for themselves or be cared for in a state institution.
Older Persons Grant
Applicants must be 60 years or older, meet the means test, and reside in South Africa as citizens, permanent residents, or refugees. They must not receive another grant or be in a state-funded facility.
Child Support Grant
This grant is for primary caregivers of children under 18. Both the applicant and the child must reside in South Africa and be citizens, permanent residents, or refugees. Applicants and their spouses must meet the means test. A maximum of six non-biological children may be claimed. Children in state care are not eligible.
Foster Child Grant
Foster parents must be South African citizens, permanent residents, or refugees. The child must live with them and be legally placed in their care for the duration of the grant.
Disability Grant
Applicants must be aged 18–59, be South African citizens, permanent residents, or refugees living in South Africa, and submit a medical report (not older than three months) confirming a permanent disability. They must meet the means test and not be in a state institution or receiving another grant.
Care Dependency Grant
This grant supports children under 18 with permanent, severe disabilities. Both the child and the applicant must be South African citizens, permanent residents, or refugees living in South Africa. A medical assessment is required, and the applicant must meet the means test (unless they are a foster parent, in which case income is excluded). The child cannot be in a state institution.
Grant-in-Aid
This is an additional grant for recipients of the Older Persons, Disability, or War Veterans grants who require full-time care due to physical or mental disabilities. It cannot be received on its own and will lapse if the main grant ends. Applicants must not live in a state-subsidised institution.
How to Apply for a Sassa Grant in May 2025
If you meet the criteria for any of the permanent Sassa grants listed above, you are encouraged to submit your application for the May 2025 grant payment.
