SASSA Old Age Grant 2024 – Eligibility, Application & More

Pension for Old Age (Old Age Grant) The SASSA Old Age Grant, also called Old Age Pension, is a social welfare program that offers financial support to South African seniors who are 60 years of age or older, do not have a source of income, and are no longer able to work.

The South African Social Security Agency, or SASSA, is in charge of overseeing the grant, which is intended exclusively for citizens, permanent residents, and refugees of South Africa. A means test is utilized to ascertain an applicant’s eligibility for an old age pension by assessing their assets, income, and other financial aspects. The applicants will get monthly payments as soon as the grant is accepted.

Key Factors for Meeting the SASSA Old Age Grant Eligibility Criteria

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

• You should be a South African citizen, a permanent resident or a recognized refugee.
• You should be living in South Africa.
• You must not be receiving any other type of social grant.
• You must be 60 years or older.
• You must not be living in any state station.
• You and your spouse must comply with the means test.
• Single applicants must ensure that their yearly earnings do not exceed R96 840 (R8 070 per month). For married individuals, the combined income of you and your spouse must not cross R193 680 annually (R16 140 monthly).
• The total worth of your assets must not exceed R1 372 800 if you are single. If you are married, your combined assets should not be worth more than R2 745 600.

What is the Means Test For The SASSA Old Age Grant?

To guarantee that only worthy people receive the award, the applicants’ financial condition, including their assets, income, and other financial criteria, is assessed using the SASSA means test. On April 1, 2023, there will be two primary thresholds: Asset Limit:

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:

• A single person should not earn more than R96 840 a year.
• The combined income of a married person with their spouse must 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 Grant for Older Persons?

The amount of the old age award is age-based. The current old age grant monthly payment is R2 090 per person for applicants between the ages of 60 and 74, and R2 110 per person for those who are 75 years of age or above, following the most recent SASSA awards amount increase on October 1, 2023.

The old age grant monthly payments are anticipated to increase by R10 per person per month as of the future update on April 1, 2024.

How Much Does an Older Persons Grant Cost?

Applying for Old Age Grants is free of cost and there is no service fee.

Procedure to Apply for the SASSA Old Age Grant

The SASSA old age grant application form can be filled out in person at the closest SASSA office branch, or if you prefer, you can apply online by following the instructions on the SASSA services website.

You can have any family member or trusted friend apply on your behalf if you are too old to visit the SASSA office yourself. A letter from you and a note from your doctor justifying your inability to visit the SASSA office personally should be provided to the person applying 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). You will be informed if you are 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 Elderly Grant

You must take the following documents (original or certified copies) along with you to the SASSA office when applying for Older Persons 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 bring a sworn statement signed by a person with a solid reputation (such as a counselor, social worker, traditional leader, religious minister or school principal) who is capable of verifying your name and age.
• 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.
• Proof of your marital status (if applicable):
• Marriage Certificate: if you are married 
• Divorce Decree: if the marriage has been dissolved
• Proof of your current address
• Proof of your stocks and dividends (if you are married, then it will also apply to your spouse) 
• Proof of your assets, including the worth of the property you own. 
• Proof of your personal pension (if any) 
• Bank statement of the last 3 months.
• In case of previous employment, you need to provide evidence of your Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) membership (also known as “Blue Book”) or a discharge certificate issued by your former employer. 
• If your spouse has passed away within the past 5 years, you need to provide a copy of your spouse’s death certificate, along with their will, the initial and final liquidation and distribution accounts (if applicable). 

Processing Time for SASSA Older Persons Grant Applications

The processing of applications for the older persons award typically takes 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 Old Age Grant Status Check

You will also need to periodically check your SASSA status after submitting your grant application 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, or rejected, or what its current status is. You should regularly check the status of your old age grant application after it has been approved to be informed about any impending payments. You can verify the status of your SASSA Old Age Award using the following methods:

What to do if your SASSA Old Age Grant Application is not Approved?

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. The appeal board will overturn SASSA’s ruling and begin disbursing your grant money if they find in your favor. You will receive a written explanation of the appeal board’s judgment if the appeal is denied.

Understanding the SASSA Old Age Grant Payment Process

Payments for your old age grant will begin as soon as your application is accepted. Since SASSA doesn’t have a set date, they issue the payment plan each month. Verify the due dates for the payments.

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 the following documents.

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

You can update 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. 

SASSA Balance Check for Old Age 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 old age pension application and the issuance of grant payments, you may need to periodically verify your amount using the techniques listed below:

• By dialing the USSD code *120*3210# or *120*69277# through your cellphone
• At any ATM (normal bank charges may be applied)
• Via SASSA WhatsApp number 082 046 8553
• From the SASSA official website
• ­By calling the SASSA call center toll-free number 0800 601 011

SASSA Old Age Grant Reviews

SASSA retains the ability to examine your old age benefit in light of the income you reported when submitting your application. The purpose of the reviews is to confirm that you are still alive and that you still fit the grant’s means test requirements, as well as to make sure your circumstances have not improved. 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.

Should your grant payments be obtained through a bank, procurator, or other organisation, you must annually provide the life certificate to the SASSA office. SASSA representatives will come to your home to perform the review if you are bedridden. You will receive a compliance receipt upon completion of the review.

After their refugee status has expired, the applicants for refugee status will be reviewed.

Grant Suspension Reasons

The following reasons may lead to the old age grant suspension:

• If your circumstances change.
• You provided false information or committed fraud.
• You failed to cooperate when your grant was reviewed.
• The result of a review.
• If the grant was approved by mistake.

Restoration of 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 Old Age Grant

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

• If you pass away
• If you are unable to provide proof that you are alive when asked. Your grant will be reviewed annually to make sure that you are still alive.
• Your grant payments are not collected for consecutive 3 months, you can apply for the grant payments to start again, but if it is more than 90 days then you’ll have to 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:

• To ensure accuracy, keep SASSA updated about the changes in your personal and financial circumstances.
• It is crucial to promptly update the SASSA regarding any changes in your physical address or contact details.
• Always provide the correct information, as 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