Sassa refers to the South African Social Security Agency, a government agency responsible for providing social security services and grants to eligible citizens. SASSA was established in 2005 as part of the government's efforts to improve access to social security services and reduce poverty and inequality in the country.
The agency provides various grants and programmes to support vulnerable groups such as the elderly and people with disabilities. Sassa plays a critical role in ensuring that these groups have access to a basic standard of living and support to help them overcome socio-economic challenges.
Approximately 29 million people in South Africa rely on some form of permanent grant from the government, and 11 million of these 29 million receive the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant, also referred to as the R350 grant.
The SRD grant is provided by the government to assist the most vulnerable in South Africa to ensure that they are able to meet their basic needs.
Grant payments for April 2023 will take place from 4 April 2023 until 6 April 2023.
Grant payments are made on the second of every month, but because 2 April falls on a weekend, April 2023 grant payments will begin on Tuesday, 4 April 2023.
Grant payment dates for April 2023:
- Older Persons Grant - Tuesday, 4 April 2023
- Disability Grants - Wednesday, 5 April 2023
- Children's Grants and all other grants - Thursday, 6 April 2023
Sassa grant beneficiaries do not need to collect their grants on the day their grant is to be paid. The grant money will remain in the beneficiary's account until they choose to use it.
Grants can be collected using different payment methods. These include collecting grants at ATMs or at retailers such as Shoprite, Checkers, U-save, Pick ‘n Pay and Boxer.
The money can be paid to beneficiaries through a bank account, through your SASSA card, through CashSend, or through a Post Office.
The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) provides the following support grants:
- Care dependency grant
- Child support grant
- Disability grant
- Foster child grant
- Grant-In-Aid
- Older persons grant
- War veterans grant
If you are in need of one of these grants, you can apply on the Sassa website. Each type of grant has different requirements, so ensure you meet the requirements for the grant you wish to apply for.
If your grant application is rejected, you can also submit an appeal through the Sassa website.
Sassa plays a critical role in promoting social development and economic growth in South Africa. By providing financial support to vulnerable groups, Sassa helps to reduce poverty and inequality, which are major barriers to development. The agency also supports initiatives that promote social cohesion, inclusion and empowerment, which are key drivers of sustainable development.
This article was updated on 24 March 2023.
