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This article details out a complete guide to the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), including how to register for grants and check a SASSA R350 status....
If you live in South Africa and want to learn more about SASSA, you're in the right place. In this comprehensive guide we tell you everything you need to know about SASSA: including what grants are available, how to qualify and apply for them, and how to check your status.
South Africa has one of the world's largest social assistance programs, and it's managed by SASSA: the South African Social Security Agency.
This government agency in South Africa handles all social security services, including managing and administering grants and allowances. These are distributed to categories of people who are vulnerable to poverty and need state support to improve their standard of living.
Some people who may need this type of support are war veterans, single parents, foster parents, and those with severe disabilities.
The Bill of Rights in the South African Constitution (Section 24-29) recognises the socio-economic rights of citizens. Consequently, the government takes reasonable legislative (and other) measures within its available resources to achieve a progressive realisation of this individual right.
It's also worth noting that SASSA is administered by the SASSA Act of 2004 which “ensure the provision of comprehensive social security services against vulnerability and poverty within the constitutional legislative framework”.
According to SASSA's 2022-2023 performance plan, nearly half of South Africa's population relies on grant payments. As you can imagine, it makes a huge impact on a large number of South African households. Certain payments -- such as the child grant -- has been shown to empower women especially. A landmark study by The Conversation found that regular grant payments helped to boost women's self-esteem and agency.
SASSA is fully state-funded, so individuals contribute as part of their national taxes. There's no need to make any extra payments into SASSA. Through the South African Revenue Service (SARS), the government has progressive income tax rates ranging from 18% to 36%, depending on income bracket.
The SASSA Act of 2004 and its related regulations provide a legal framework for administering seven major social grants in South Africa. These are targeted at different groups of people vulnerable to poverty.
They include:
There is also a temporary grant, known as the Social Relief of Distress grant. This is paid out monthly, for a maximum of three months: although you can apply for a three month extension, if your circumstances are exceptional. These grants are only available to people who aren't already receiving a social grant.
Another type of temporary assistance is the Covid-19 social relief of distress grant, also known as the R350 grant. This was introduced to help low-income people affected by lockdowns when the pandemic was at its height. This grant has been extended multiple times, and will now be available until at least March 2025. Currently you can only apply online.
Most grants in South Africa are "means-tested", so the grant amount you get will depend on the value of your assets and income and whether or not you're married. The only grants that aren't currently means-tested are the Foster Child grant and Grand in Aid.
Depending on the means-test results, you might not receive the total maximum grant amount that you qualify for. Receiving other grants or being admitted to a state institution might disqualify you from, or reduce the maximum amount, of some SASSA grants.
For example, if you're admitted to hospital for a long time, your Old Age Grant, Disability Grant or War Veteran's Grant will be reduced by 25%. This applies four months after you're admitted, and will remain reduced until you're sent home.
SASSA manages and administers social security services to South African citizens, permanent residents, and refugees currently living in South Africa. Primary caregivers, foster parents, the elderly, war veterans, and those with physical or mental disabilities are all eligible for SASSA funding.
Note that the income threshold for the means test is different depending on which social grant you're applying for. There are also different guidelines for each grant, which we've quickly outlined below.
Note that these are subject to change, and were correct at the time of writing in October 2024. You can find the most up to date information on the SASSA website. This information is for guidance only.
This grant is for primary caregivers who need financial support to look after their child, or children, who are aged under 18 and live with you in South Africa.
You won't qualify for the grant if your child is in a state institution, or if they're at school age but not attending lessons. You can only claim for a maximum of six non-biological or legally adopted children.
It pays R530 per child per month, with a top up of R250 available.
If you're not the child's biological parent - for example if you're a grandparent, stepmother, or auntie - you'll need to provide proof that you're the full-time caregiver. Some evidence that SASSA will accept includes:
The child support grant is means-tested. If you're a single person, you must earn less than R61,200 per year. If you're married, your combined income can't be higher than R122,400 per year.
This grant is available to people who are fostering a child under 18, who lives with them in South Africa. To qualify, you need to have a court order saying that you're their designated foster carer.
The grant pays R1,180 per month, and isn't means-tested. The child has to remain in your care for the duration of time that you're claiming.
This is a special grant for primary caregivers of children aged under 18 who have physical and/or mental disabilities, and require full-time care. To qualify, the child needs to live with you (not in an institution) and must be found to be severely and permanently medically disabled by a medical officer.
The grant amount is currently R2,190. If you're fostering a care dependent child, you may also qualify for the child support grant as foster parents aren't means tested.
Biological parents will need to undergo a means test. To be eligible for this grant, single people can't earn more than R250,800 per year. For married people, your combined income can be up to R501,600 per year.
This grant is for anyone aged between 18 and 59 years who has been found medically unfit to work by a state-appointed medical officer. This applies to both physical and mental disabilities.
It's available as a temporary or permanent assistance, and is given for between six and twelve months at a time. If you need a permanent disability grant, you need to apply again once the initial period is over.
SASSA can review the grant to make sure you're still legally disabled.
To get this grant, you can't be receiving any other grant. It's also not available to anyone being cared for in a state institution.
The disability grant is means tested, and the grant amount is based on a sliding scale -- so if you're a high earner you'll receive less than someone on a small income.
Whatever your source of income, you can't earn more than R97,320 per year if you're a single person. Your assets shouldn't be worth more than R1,379,400. If you're a married person, your combined income shouldn't be more than R194,640 per year and your assets should amount to no more than £2,728,800.
This is an extra grant for people receiving the Disability, War Veteran's, or Older Person grant if they're unable to look after themselves. This grant gives you R510 per month to pay someone for full-time care.
You need to be assessed by a medical officer to receive this grant, and can't claim it if you live in a state institution.
Also known as the 'old age pension', this grant is for anyone over the age 60. It's available to those who aren't receiving any other grants, and aren't living under state care. The maximum grant amount is slightly larger for those aged 60 and 74, and drops for those aged over 75.
This is a means-tested grant. The income threshold for single people is R97,320 per year, with assets worth no more than R1,379,400. For married people, the combined income should be less than R194,640 and assets should be no more than R2,758,800.
This social grant is for those who fought in either World War II or the Korean War. It's only available to people over the age of 60, or those that are disabled, and aren't receiving any other grants or living in a state institution.
As this is a means-tested grant, you need to earn under the income threshold. Currently this is R97,320 for single people (with assets worth no more than R1,379,400) and R194,600 for married people (with combined assets worth no more than R2,758,800.
This grant is provided on a temporary basis to people who find themselves in dire straits. It's available to people who are already receiving other social grants. It's available for the following emergency situations:
While the days of lockdown are thankfully behind us, the Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress Grant has been extended until at least March 2025. Today it pays R370 a month, but is still colloquially known as the R350 grant because that was the grant amount when it first launched.
The grant is available to South African citizens, permanent residents, asylum seekers, refugees and special permit holders aged between 18 and 60 years old. To qualify, you need to be either unemployed or earning less than R624 per month.
You can still claim this grant if you're receiving Child Support Grants, but it's not compatible with any others. You also can't be contributing to (or eligible to receive) any UIF benefit, and not receiving NSFAS stipend. This grant is not available to those staying in a government-funded institution.
These figures are correct at the time of writing, but are subject to change through the year. For the latest information on grant amounts and income thresholds, please visit SASSA's official website: http://www.sassa.gov.za/
You should apply for SASSA grants at your nearest South African Security Agency office. Some applications can be done online -- for example the R350 grant can only be applied for electronically.
If you're physically disabled, elderly, or unwell, you can ask a friend or family member to apply on your behalf using power of attorney. Home visits are available, however there's often a long wait for these appointments.
This is because the application forms need to be completed with a SASSA officer present. They'll give you receipt once you turn in your application, and you should keep this in a safe place.
You will need to bring proof of identity with you: the best option is a South African 13-digit bar-coded identity book, or a birth certificate for children. If you have neither, call your local SASSA office to find out what alternatives they accept. Sometimes a sworn statement signed by a reputable person who can verify your name and age is acceptable.
Depending on the grant, you may need to provide:
The application process begins immediately, as long as all documents are correctly submitted. It takes up to 90 days.
If your SASSA application is successful, you'll receive a message or text indicating to let you know, and that you're ready to receive payment. Your first grant payment will include backpay, so you'll be paid retrospectively from the application date.
You'll also receive a SASSA gold card and a related Postbank account where your grant money will be deposited. This works like a regular bank account: you and other people can deposit money into it, too.
The SASSA card is a Mastercard debit card. It can be used to buy things, withdraw cash at till points or check your balance at an ATM. If you take cash out at an ATM, you'll be charged a transaction fee.
If your SASSA application isn't successful, you'll be sent a written notification to let you know. You can ask for reconsideration, or lodge an appeal within 90 days of the rejectio date.
SASSA doesn't specify a timeframe for this, as every bank is different. As a guide, most banks take about seven business days to verify and process banking details.
To check your SASSA balance by phone:
You can also check your SASSA balance via ATM by following these steps:
If you don't want your grant money to be paid into the SASSA gold card, it's possible to receive electronic deposits into your personal bank account. This needs to be an account held in the name of the grant recipient.
To switch to your personal account:
To keep tabs on the status of your SASSA R350, you an either go to the official SASSA website and check if you're approved.
Another option is to add 082 046 8553 as a contact, and send a message saying “status.” This will give you an update on your grant's process.
“Pending” means that SASSA is still in the process of verifying your details. Your application hasn't been approved or rejected yet. It can take up to 90 days for SASSA to process your application.
If you're still getting a "pending" status after 90 days, contact your local SASSA office to check what's happening. They may need extra information from you to help the process run smoother. This is why it's important to keep your application receipt in a safe place.
Workpay is a HR and Payroll software company that offers time & attendance, payroll, human resource, leave, expenses and remote teams solutions to businesses across Africa.
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Workpay is a HR and Payroll software company that offers time & attendance, payroll, human resource, leave, expenses and remote teams solutions to businesses across Africa.
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