Who Qualifies For SASSA Disability Grant: A complete Guide in 2024
In South Africa, SASSA is an agency that gives aid to needy and jobless individuals. This agency provides aid to individuals having disabilities as well. If you have a physical or mental disability. And due to this disability, you are unable to work for a period of more than 6 months. You can apply for the SASSA Disability Grant.
What is SASSA Disability Grant:
SASSA offers a disability grant. This grant offers financial support to individuals with disabilities. You will have temporary financial support. If your disability lasts more than six months and less than a year. And you will have permanent financial support if your disability lasts more than a year. A permanent grant remains for more than 12 months. Before you apply for this grant, you should know about its essentials. In this article, I will tell you who qualifies for disability grant. And how to apply for it. Let’s start the article.
Eligibility Criteria:
There is an eligibility criteria for the disability grant. You will be eligible for this grant. If you fulfill the criterias below;
Citizenship:
You should be a South African citizen. You should either be a permanent resident or refugee. You can use your ID or resident permit to prove it.
Residency:
You should be living in South Africa at the time of applying.
Age:
Your age should be between 18 and 59 years.
Not Be in a State Institution:
You should not be cared for in a state institution. You should not be getting any aid from them.
South African ID:
You should have a 13 digit, bar-coded identity document (ID). This is an ID given by South Africa to its citizens.
Earning:
You must not be earning more than R86 280 if you are single. And you should not be earning more than R172 560 if married.
Assists Owned:
You should not have assets worth more than R1 227 600 if you are single. And R2 455 200 if you are married.
Medical Examination By State:
You should have a medical examination. In it, a doctor assigned by the state will assess the degree of your disability. If you are approved by the doctor. You will be considered as eligible for the grant.
Medical Records:
You should bring with yourself any previous medical records and reports. You should display them when you make the application. You will need them when the assessment is done as well.
An independent doctor will check you. He will make a report. And will forward this report to the government.
Applying For The Disability Grant:
If you fulfill the criteria above. You are eligible for the disability grant. Now you can apply for it. To apply for the disability grant, these simple steps;
Gather Required Documents:
Before you go towards the application process. Gather all of the required documents first. These documents include;
- Your 13 digit South African (ID). If you don’t have a South African ID:
- You should write an affidavit in the presence of the Oath Commissioner. The affidavit should be as per SASSA standard format.
- You should make a sworn statement. Sign it by a reputable person like a councilor or minister. That person will verify your age and name. Bring that sworn statement along with you.
- SASSA agent will have your fingerprints. Then you will be forwarded to Home Affairs department. You can apply for an ID now.
- A medical report about your disability.
- Previous medical records confirming your disability.
- Proof that you are single or married.
- Residential proof.
- Proof of earning and assets.
- Proof of owning any property.
- Proof of having private pension ( if you have one).
- A bank statement. It should be from the past three months.
- Refugees permit and 13 digit refugee ID.
- If you were employed before. You will need to provide an Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) document (‘blue book’). You should provide a discharge certificate from your prior employer as well.
- If your spouse died within the last five years. You should provide a copy of their will as well as. It is for the first and final liquidation and distribution accounts.
Visit SASSA office:
When you have all the documents, you can visit the office of SASSA now. Visit the office. Get a form. Complete the form in the presence of a SASSA official. And submit the form.
Submit Documents:
Submit all of the documents mentioned above as well. Once they are submitted. You will be forwarded to the next step.
Undergo Assessment:
In the next step, you will have to go through a medical evaluation. SASSA will assign you a doctor. The doctor will have a thorough examination of your disability. The doctor will send the report to SASSA.
Await Processing:
After the medical examination, you will have to wait. SASSA will verify everything. This process may take upto three months. But once your grant is approved. You will be paid from the day you applied.
How Much Will You Be Paid:
SASSA will pay you a grant of R2 180 per month.
Payment Methods:
You can have your payment in three modes. These three modes include;
- You can have your payments in the form of cash. You can collect this cash at SASSA specified cash pay points.
- You can have that payment in your bank account.
- You can have that payment through special instructions for individuals with disabilities.
Maintaining Grant Status:
You will receive the grant as long as your status is maintained. Your grant will be suspended if;
- Your disability is cured.
- Your economic situation has improved.
- You don’t cooperate during reviews.
- You are involved in any fraudulent activity.
- You fail to claim the grant for three consecutive months.
- You start living in a state funded institution.
- You passed away.
Conclusion:
SASSA provides disability grant to individuals with mental and physical disabilities. It gives them financial support to fulfill their needs. If you are eligible for it, you can gather the required documents. And can apply for it using the simple steps explained above. If you feel any difficulties, feel free to contact SASSA at SASSA Toll free No 0800 60 10 11. You can also mail SASSA at GrantEnquiries@sassa.gov.za. Best of luck with your application process.