The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has warned the public about fake messages circulating on social media regarding the medical referral form for the Grant-in-Aid (GIA).
Sassa distributes several different permanent grants aimed at assisting financially vulnerable people living in South Africa. Permanent grants distributed by Sassa include the Older Persons pension grant, Disability grant, War Veterans grant, Care Dependency grant, Foster Child grant, Child Support grant, Child Support grant Top-Up and Grant-in-aid.
Sassa is urging the public to ignore these misleading messages about the grant in aid which the agency says has caused unnecessary confusion.
Please note that the text messages and voice notes circulating on social media are fake and misleading. The Agency is urging the public to refrain from circulating such information as it causes unnecessary confusion.
The grant payment agency has reminded the public that all official updates regarding social grants are communicated through accredited platforms and reminds beneficiaries that Sassa services are free.
Beneficiaries are advised that should there be changes or developments about any SASSA-related matter, such will be communicated on SASSA credited platforms.
Who Qualifies For The Grant-In-Aid
To qualify for the Grant-in-Aid , the applicant must already receive either a Disability Grant or an Older Persons Grant. If a new application is made for an Older Persons Grant and the applicant will need full-time care, the GIA assessment should be conducted as soon as possible.
The applicant must be unable to care for themselves due to a physical or mental disability and require full-time care from another person. Additionally, they must not be living in an institution that receives a government subsidy.
If the GIA application is approved, the beneficiary will receive an additional R530 per month, which will be paid along with their existing social grant. Payments will be made either through an electronic deposit into a bank or Postbank account or via an institution acting as the grant administrator, such as a welfare organisation.
If an application for the GIA is unsuccessful, they can submit a grant appeal. This grant appeal must be made within 90 days of receiving Sassa’s grant application decision.
Sassa will inform the client in writing why the application was unsuccessful. If a client disagrees with the decision, the client can appeal to the Minister of Social Development. An appeal must be made within 90 days of being notified that the application was unsuccessful.
