The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) administers social grants to more than 18 million people in the country, depending on their various circumstances.
Sassa administers the following grants:
- Older person's grant (old age pension)
- Child support grant
- R350 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant
- Care dependency grant
- Grant-in-aid (for individuals who live on a social grant but need someone to take care of them)
- War veteran's grant
- Foster child grant
- Disability grant
- Social Relief of Distress grant for temporary assistance
If you want to apply for any of the social grants listed above then you can either apply online via the Sassa services website or you can visit a Sassa office near to you and apply in person.
Before applying for any of the grants you must check the requirements of the grant you are applying for to make sure that you qualify for it.
Applying Online
You must follow these steps to apply for a Sassa grant online:
- Visit the Sassa services website
- Click on 'Register' to create a personal profile on the website.
- You will need to provide personal details like your ID number, email address and cellphone number when registering.
- Once you have registered you will be able to login to the Sassa services website using your username and password.
- Click on 'Apply for a grant' and select the type of grant you want to apply for.
- Fill in the required information for the grant application.
- Then you must print the Sassa generated affidavit and certify the document by a commissioner of oaths. Submit this affidavit after having it certified it.
- Upload certified supporting documents along with your application.
Applying In Person
If you plan to apply for a Sassa grant in person then you can visit a Sassa office near to you to complete this process. If you are unable to go to the Sassa offices yourself because of illness, old age or disability then you can send a family member or friend to apply for you. The person that will be applying for you must take a letter from you which authorizes the application.
The application form will be available at the Sassa office and must be completed in the presence of a Sassa official, who will assist you or the person you have sent to complete the application. The application form is free.
After the application has been completed you will be given a stamped receipt which will state the name of the Sassa official who helped you with the application. It is important that you keep the receipt as it is your proof of application.
Sassa usually takes 3 months to process a grant application and once a grant has been approved the applicant will receive payment from the date which they applied.
If your application was unsuccessful and you believe that Sassa's decision was incorrect then you can appeal within 90 days of receiving the communication that your application was unsuccessful.