The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) distributes social grants to millions of vulnerable people living in South Africa. These Sassa grants serve an important tool against extreme poverty and hunger for the country’s most vulnerable people.
Grants are paid to beneficiaries based on their age, financial needs and personal circumstances. People who meet all the eligibility criteria for grants distributed by Sassa are urged to apply to receive a grant.
Sassa recently revealed that thousands of people submit grant applications monthly.
In June 2023 alone, more than 192 000 social grant applications were received by Sassa. These applications were submitted for permanent grants and temporary grants distributed by the agency.
Permanent Grants Distributed By Sassa
Sassa has several permanent grants which include the Older Persons grant, Disability grant, War Veterans grant, Care Dependency grant, Foster Child grant, Child Support grant, Child Support grant Top-Up and Grant-in-aid.
How To Apply For Sassa Grants
Individuals who meet the eligibility criteria for Sassa grants can visit their nearest Sassa office to submit an application. There are 9 regional SASSA offices and 46 district offices across the country to assist grant applicants.
Individuals who are unable to travel to a Sassa office themselves, due to age or illness, can appoint a family member or friend to apply on their behalf. A procurator must be appointed by the beneficiary of the grant. The grant beneficiary is required to complete an affidavit appointing the procurator to collect the grant on their behalf. A procurator must be appointed by the beneficiary of the grant. The grant beneficiary is required to complete an affidavit appointing the procurator to collect the grant on their behalf.
You can also submit an online application for your Sassa grant.
When a Sassa grant application is completed, you will be given a receipt or a reference number confirming the Sassa application. You are urged to keep your receipt/reference safe as it is your only proof of application.
If Sassa approves a grant application, the beneficiary will be paid from the date on which they submitted a complete application. A grant application is only considered complete when all the required documents have been submitted.
Foster child grants are paid from the date of the court order.
Can You Apply For Sassa Grant Online?
People can apply for several of the permanent grants distributed by Sassa using the Sassa online services portal.
Applications for the Older Persons Grant, Child Support Grant and Foster Child Grant can be completed on the online grant application portal. The Sassa services portal enables applicants to apply for grants online, saving them time and money.
Here’s How Many People Applied For Permanent Grants In June 2023
- Care Dependency Grant - 3,157 applications
- Child Support Grant - 81,295 applications
- Disability Grant - 48,269 applications
- Foster Child Grant - 2,719 applications
- Grant-in-aid - 9,576 applications
- Older Persons Grant - 27,866 applications
- War Veterans Grant - no applications in June
Sassa has not revealed how much of these applications have been approved. However, Sassa is paying grants to more than 18 million beneficiaries in South Africa, and this could increase by more than 100,000 depending on the outcome of June Sassa grant applications.
The Temporary Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant
The Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant, commonly referred to as the R350 grant, was introduced in 2020 to assist unemployed people who were unable to seek employment due to government restrictions.
While the grant has been available for more than three years, it is still considered a temporary relief measure and its implementation is set to conclude in March 2024.
unemployed individuals aged 18-59, including citizens, asylum seekers, permit holders, and refugees. To be eligible, applicants should not already be receiving government support, living in a government institution, or earning more than R624. If an applicant's bank balance exceeds R624, their application for the R350 grant will be declined.
This grant excludes individuals receiving other forms of government assistance such as other social grants from Sassa, financial aid from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme(NSFAS), or benefits from the Unemployment Insurance Fund.
More than 19,000 people submitted applications for the SRD grant in June 2024. Unlike other grants distributed by Sassa, applications for the SRD grant can only be submitted online.
How To Apply For The SRD Grant
Step 1: Go to srd.sassa.gov.za.
Step 2: Select your citizenship criteria at the end of the page (either pick 'South African ID Holders' or 'Asylum Seekers and Special Permit Holders')
Step 3: Select the yellow bar that says, 'click here to apply online' under the 'How do I apply for this SRD Grant' or the 'Asylum Seekers and Special Permit Holders' section depending on your citizenship selection
Step 4: Enter your mobile number
Step 5: Click "Send SMS"
Step 6: Enter the one-time pin that Sassa has sent to the number
Continue the application process by filling in the steps required by Sassa.
Individuals who submit a grant application online can check on the progress of their grant application by completing a Sassa Status Check. Alternatively, the R350 grant applicants can track their grant applications.
When Are Sassa Grants Paid
Sassa pays grants from the second day of each month. Older persons grants are distributed first, followed by the disability grants and finally the Child Support Grants are paid.
While Sassa endeavours to pay grants from the second day of every month, this is not always possible because they do not pay grants on public holidays and weekends.
If the second day of the month falls on a public holiday or a weekend, the grant will be paid on the next week day.
The Careers Portal has publishied the grant payment schedule for the rest of 2023 allowing grant beneficiaries to know when exactly Sassa will pay their grant.
How To Contact Sassa For Grant Enquiries
If you have any further questions or require additional information, visit your Sassa page. Alternatively, you can contact Sassa directly by calling the SASSA toll free number on 080060 10 11.
