SASSA Disability Grant [2024] – How to Apply, Requirements, and Benefits

People with physical or mental disabilities in South Africa can receive financial support through the SASSA disability grant. If your physical or mental handicap prevents you from working for more than six months, you may be eligible to apply for the disability grant.

Your eligibility for a temporary or permanent disability award will be determined by the results of the medical evaluation. There are two types of grants available:

Permanent Disability Grant:

You can be qualified for an award for permanent disability if your impairment lasts more than a year. However, bear in mind that “permanent” does not imply “forever” in this sense. It implies that for the duration of your incapacity, you will get the grant payment spread out over a year.

Temporary Disability Grant:

You will receive a temporary disability award if your impairment lasts for six months or longer, but no longer than twelve months. If your impairment still keeps you from working, it can be renewed.

Key Factors for the SASSA Disability Grant Eligibility Criteria

Before applying for the disability grant, you should meet the following eligibility criteria:

• You should must be a South African citizen, permanent resident or a recognized refugee.
• You must be living in South Africa.
• Your age must be between 19 to 59.
• You need to possess an identification document (ID).
• Make sure you’re not already benefiting from any other personal social grant.
• You must not be currently receiving care in a state station.
• You and your spouse (if married) needs to comply with means test requirements.
• You must be unfit to work due to disability (mentally or physically) for more than six months.
• If your disability stops you from working for a minimum of 6 months but a maximum of 12 months, you can meet the criteria for a temporary disability grant.
• If your disability stops you from working for more than 12 months, you become eligible for a permanent disability grant.
• You must bring any previous medical records and reports to your disability grant application and assessment.
• To assess the level of your disability, you are required to undergo a medical evaluation by a doctor designated by the state.
• Individuals who are single must ensure that their yearly earnings do not exceed R86 280 (R7 190 per month). For married individuals, the combined income of you and your spouse must not cross R172 560 annually (R14 380 monthly).
• If you are single, your asset’s total worth must remain below R1 227 600. And if you are married, the total worth of assets owned by you and your spouse must remain below R2 455 200.

What is the SASSA Disability Grant Means Test?

The means test is used to evaluate the financial status, including income, assets, and other financial factors of the applicants, to ensure that only deserving individuals receive the grant. As of 1 April 2023, there are two main thresholds:

1. Assets Threshold:

• A single person should not own assets worth more than R1 372 800.
• Combined assets of a married person with their spouse should not be worth more than R2 745 600.

2. Income Threshold:

• Individuals who are single must ensure that their yearly earnings do not surpass R96 840.
• The combined income of a married person with their spouse should not be more than R193 680 a year.

Each grant type has different criteria for its means test to evaluate financial eligibility.

How Much is the SASSA Disability Grant Amount?

As of October 1, 2023, the most recent data indicate that the monthly disability benefit amount is R2,090-per-person. Because the disability payment is valued according to a sliding scale, the grant amount will be highest for those with the lowest private income. This is due to the grant’s intended purpose of giving low-income disabled people financial support. The grant amount will decrease if the grant applicant’s private income rises.

On April 1, 2024, the grant amount is anticipated to grow by R10 per person per month.

How Much does that Disability Grant Cost?

Applying for a SASSA disability grant is free of cost, and there is no service fee.

Procedure to Apply for the SASSA Disability Grant

The first step in applying for a disability award is to have a state-appointed physician examine you medically. The medical professional who has been approved by SASSA will diagnose you in order to establish if you are seriously disabled and qualify for a disability award. They will also verify if a temporary or permanent disability award is appropriate for your situation.

A physician will simply evaluate your health. Since SASSA considers other considerations as well, like your financial situation and capacity for self-care, SASSA has the final say over whether to issue the grant.

After the medical evaluation is over, you can apply for an SASSA disability award by completing an application at the SASSA office branch that is closest to you. Applying online is also possible if you follow the guidelines on the SASSA services website.

If you are unable to apply personally because of a serious impairment, you might be able to have a friend or member of your family apply on your behalf. A letter from you and a note from your physician explaining why you are unable to visit the SASSA office alone should be carried by the person filing the application on your behalf.

The application forms must be filled out in front of the SASSA official and are available at SASSA offices. You may complete the application on your own. The officer will assist you in filling out the application form if you are having trouble doing so on your own. They will also record your interview (or that of the person you have designated). They will let you know whether you’re eligible for the grant after the interview.

You will also receive a dated stamp receipt with the name of the SASSA officer who helped you with the application after finishing the application and interview. Keep this receipt as proof of application even if you are not qualified.

Required Documents to Apply for Disability Grant

You must take the following documents (original or certified copies) along with you to the SASSA office when applying for Disability Grant:

• Your original 13-digit bar-coded ID (identity document). If you don’t have an ID:
• You are required to fill out the affidavit form on the SASSA standard affidavit template, and this must be done in the presence of an Oaths Commissioner who is not affiliated with SASSA. A SASSA official will provide you with the form, or you can download the SASSA affidavit from here.
• You are required to present a sworn statement that has been signed by a respected person (such as a counselor, social worker, traditional leader, minister of religion, or school principal) to confirm your age and name.
• SASSA will take your fingerprint to process your application. You will be sent to the Department of Home Affairs to request for your ID while processing your application. If you fail to get the ID, your application will be suspended by SASSA.
• To verify your disability, you must present a medical report and a functional assessment report from a medical practitioner recognized by SASSA. Your medical evaluation must have been conducted within the last 3 months leading up to the application.
• Documentation verifying your marital status (if it applies):
• Submission of a Marriage Certificate for those who are married.
• If your marriage has been dissolved, submit the Divorce Decree.
• Proof of your current address.
• Proof of your stocks and dividends (if you are married, then it will also be applicable to your spouse).
• Supporting materials confirming your assets, outlining the value of properties you possess. (if applicable)
• Include supporting documents that validate your private pension. (if any)
• Bank statement of the last 3 months.
• If applicable, provide documents for Refugee status along with refugee ID.
• If you had a previous job, submit a certificate of discharge from your past employer or attach evidence of your Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) membership (commonly referred to as the “Blue Book”).
• A copy of a death certificate if your life partner has passed within the last 5 years along their will. And where applicable, a copy of both the initial and final records detailing the liquidation and distribution of their estate.

Processing Time for the Application of the SASSA Disability Grant

The average processing time for disability grant applications is three months. Once your application is approved, the payments will begin. All of the payments from the date your application was submitted will be given to you once it has been processed and your grant has been accepted. If your application is denied, SASSA will send you a letter explaining why the grant isn’t authorized.

SASSA Disability Grant Status Check

You will also need to periodically check the progress of your grant application once it has been submitted in order to stay informed. The best thing is that it’s simple to track down by using a status check to find out whether your application was accepted, rejected, or what its current status is. Following the application’s approval, it is important to regularly check the status to stay informed about impending payments. You can verify the status of an SASSA disability award using one of the following methods:

What should you do if your SASSA Disability Grant application is denied?

You have the option to ask the SASSA to reevaluate your application if your grant application is rejected but you think the decision was made incorrectly. Should your request for reconsideration be turned down as well, but you’re still not happy with the SASSA’s ruling, you can file an appeal with the Ministry of Social Development at the National Department of Social Development. Within ninety days of the application’s submission, the appeal must be submitted.

To reach a decision, the Ministry of Social Development will examine your appeal. Should they find in your favor, they will reverse the SASSA’s ruling and you will begin to get your grant money. If your appeal is denied, you will be provided with a written explanation explaining the ruling.

Understanding the SASSA Disability Grant Payment Process

Once your disability grant is approved, you will start receiving payments from the date you applied. SASSA releases the payment schedule every month as they don’t have any fixed dates.

SASSA will pay you the grant payments through the following three methods (You need to opt for one):

• Direct deposit in your bank account or Postbank account. The banks may charge you for the service fee.
• You can withdraw your grant payment in cash at SASSA-partnered retail outlets such as Pick n Pay, Shoprite, Boxer, Checkers, Usave, and Spar.
• From some specific institutions (e.g., old age homes, disability centers, Non-profit organizations)

If you want to receive your grant payments through a bank account, you will need to complete a Consent Form for Bank Payment of SASSA Grant and submit each of the following documents.

• Proof of identity, such as an ID card, driving license or birth certificate
• Bank account number, the account should be on your name 
• Three months bank statement, which should show your name and account number on the statement

You can change your bank account or payment method anytime by filling out a form in the welfare office. However, the payments will be received through the new payment method from the following month after the verification is completed.

If you cannot collect grants yourself due to being too old, you can nominate someone to collect payments on your behalf. 

Balance Check for SASSA Disability Grant

You may find out how much money is left on your grant by using the SASSA balance check facility. You can manage your finances and make wise decisions with your grant money by keeping track of your balance and being informed. Following approval of your disability grant application and the issuance of grant payments, you might need to periodically verify your balance using the following techniques:

Using your mobile, call the USSD code 1203210# or 12069277#.
Any ATM (regular bank fees may be imposed)

Through SASSA WhatsApp 082 046 8553through dialing the toll-free number 0800 601 011 of the SASSA call center

Reviews of SASSA Disability Grants

Based on the income you reported when submitting your application, SASSA retains the right to review your award. The purpose of the evaluations is to make sure that you continue to meet the grant’s means test requirements and that nothing has changed in your situation. Additionally, it’s to make sure you’re still alive. You should constantly keep your application updated whenever your circumstances change, as this will facilitate the evaluation process.

Before the three-month review period or the deadline to submit your life certificate (documentation that you are still alive), SASSA will provide you written notice. The date, time, and location of the evaluation will also be explained in the written statement.

If you get your grant through a bank, organization, or agent, you have to send the life certificate to the SASSA headquarters every year. SASSA representatives will come to your home to perform the review if you are bedridden. After your evaluation is complete, you will receive a compliance receipt.

Upon the expiration of their refugee status, the review procedure for applicants will begin.

Grant Suspension Reasons

• The following reasons may lead to the grant suspension:
• If your circumstances change (financial or medical).
• You provided false information or committed fraud.
• You didn’t cooperate while reviewing the grant.
• The outcome of the review.
• If your grant was approved by mistake.

Restoring the Grant

Within ninety days of the suspension, you can file an appeal with the Ministry of Social Development at the National Department of Social Development if you think the suspension of your grant was an error or if you disagree with SASSA’s decision.

Reasons for Lapsing of the Disability Grant

Your disability grant will lapse if one of the following conditions occurs:

• If you pass away.
• If your temporary grant period has been lapsed.
• In case you cannot give proof of your existence as requested. Your grant will be reviewed annually to ensure that you are still alive.
• If you have not collected your grant payments for three months in a row, you can request for the payments to resume, but if it has been more than 90 days, you must apply for a new grant.
• You are admitted to a fully government-funded institution such as a hospital or a jail.
• You are out of the country for a period of more than 90 days without any notice.
• If your income and/or assets improved so much that you are no longer qualified for the grant in terms of means test.

Your grant amount will be reduced to 25% of your total if you are admitted to the state station for longer than four months. Your grant will be reinitiated to the maximum amount immediately upon your discharge.

Responsibilities of the Beneficiaries

As a SASSA grant holder, you also need to fulfill some responsibilities:

• In order to ensure accuracy, keep SASSA updated about any changes in your personal and financial circumstances.
• It is crucial to promptly inform SASSA of any modifications to your physical address or contact details.
• Always provide the correct information because SASSA does not tolerate any fraudulent activity.

Since SASSA sends alerts and updates to the address you provided in the application, you must keep the SASSA informed in the aforementioned scenarios to prevent any disruption or suspension in your funding. Your funds may be suspended if you update your address or contact information without telling the SASSA since they won’t be able to get in touch with you.

Contact SASSA

Should you have additional questions, feel free to reach out to SASSA through the following channels:

• Connect with the SASSA Toll-Free Call Centre at: 0800 60 10 11
• Contact the SASSA Head Office: 012 400 2322
• Email your queries to the SASSA Head Office: [email protected]
• Explore a list of SASSA offices across the country: SASSA offices near you