Appoint a Procurator to apply for or receive a SASSA social grant on your behalf
Should you find yourself or a loved one unable to apply for or receive their SASSA Grant (for reasons such as sickness, old age or mobility issues), you can then appoint another person to act on your behalf, in terms of your grant (this should be someone you trust – like your spouse, a family member or close friend). This person is called your procurator, who you appoint by way of power of attorney.
There are certain steps your procurator will need to take in order to apply for and receive the grant on your behalf.
Oftentimes, persons applying for the Older Persons Grant, Disability Grant or Grant-In-Aid, may need the assistance of a procurator.
Applicants who are mentally able but physically unable to attend a SASSA office, are encouraged to still apply for themselves, by requesting a home visit from SASSA. However, a procurator may still be used to collect the grant.
What is power of attorney?
Power of attorney is an authoritative letter, allowing one individual (i.e. the agent or procurator) to act on behalf of another (i.e. the principal or beneficiary). A Power of attorney (PoA) can be given to an agent in instances of specific acts (special power of attorney) or in general.
It’s important to note that power of attorney is not a contract, but rather, a proof of consent from the principal (beneficiary) for the agent (procurator) to act on their behalf. Therefore, the signature of power of attorney grants the agent the ability to act and notify third parties of any decisions made by the principal. The agent is also protected from liability when they engage in tasks on behalf of the principal, and this protection is valid, granted the agent is authorized in the correct manner.
A special PoA can be collected from SASSA offices, which must then be signed and fingerprinted by the beneficiary and procurator, in the presence of a Commissioner of Oaths (for example, a lawyer, church minister, police officer or bank or post office official).
Beneficiaries who are too sick, old or disabled, may nominate 2 people who they know well, to make an affidavit of their behalf, confirming that the beneficiary is alive but cannot apply or receive the grant due to ill health or old age. Alternatively, a SASSA official may visit the recipients home, to allow the beneficiary to complete and sign the PoA.
What if I do not have anyone to appoint as a procurator or agent?
Should you or someone you know be a recipient of a Social Grant but are unable to appoint someone to receive it, SASSA will happily assist. SASSA assists by nominating a person to apply or receive social assistance on your behalf, if you are proven unable to do so.
SASSA will nominate a procurator in two instances:
1) The beneficiary cannot independently access social assistance, due to being mentally unfit – SASSA will then appoint someone to apply, collect and manage their grant.
2) It is uncovered that the beneficiary or a procurator misuses the grant money – SASSA will then appoint someone to manage their grant.
Who qualifies to become a procurator?
It’s important to note that a procurator or agent may receive social assistance on behalf of a maximum of five beneficiaries (and no more than five).
A beneficiary (principal) may appoint someone as a procurator (agent) if:
- The agent (procurator) has a valid Identity Document
- The agent is 18 years old or older
- The agent must reside in South Africa permanently (with a fixed address)
- The agent is not an unrehabilitated insolvent (i.e. their assets and/or state have been liquidated)
- The agent consents to being appointed as the procurator
- The agent must not owe any money to the beneficiary (principal)
What must the procurator do to apply for a grant on the beneficiary’s behalf?
Once the beneficiary has appointed an individual as their procurator, the procurator needs to submit the following to SASSA:
- Proof of Identification (this can be any form of identification, passport or drivers license)
- The life certificate of the beneficiary (principal)
- An affidavit stating that the social assistance received by the procurator (agent) will be given to the beneficiary (principal)
The procurator must also sign the grant application form and have their thumbprints taken.
The procurator is responsible for informing SASSA of any changes in the applicant’s circumstances.
Applicants who only need a procurator for a short (for example they are temporarily hospitalised), may nominate a procurator for a period of up to 3 months.
What is an affidavit?
An affidavit is a formal written statement made under oath – this means that the person who has made the statement swears under oath that the document is true. Should and part of the contents of an affidavit be false, the person who made it will then be prosecuted.
Affidavits are often obtained when an individual needs to get a copy of a lost document, or when their child is traveling with one parent/ school group.
Affidavits can be obtained from a police station, where the individual will be given a formal document to complete and sign.
Can a beneficiary (principal) end their agreement with a procurator (agent)?
Should a beneficiary choose to terminate their agreement with a procurator, the beneficiary must:
- Notify SASSA in writing about the termination, and it’s effective date OR
- Submit a sworn statement (in the event that the beneficiary is unable to read/ write)
As soon as a procurator is notified that their services are being terminated, they must:
- Notify SASSA in writing about the termination
- Transfer any remaining money of beneficiary back to them (this must be completed within 10 days of the termination)
Read more about the different types of SASSA grants here:
SRD R350 Grant Care Dependency Grant Child Support Grant Foster Child Grant Disability Grant Older Persons Grant Grant-In-Aid War Veterans Grant
Types of Grants How to Apply Status Check Payment Dates Jobs & Vacancies Updates & Blog Contact SASSA
CONTACT SASSA
For any further queries, please contact SASSA directly:
Contact the SASSA Toll Free Call centre on: 0800 60 10 11
Contact the SASSA Head Office on: 012 400 2322
Email SASSA Head Office at: Grantsenquiries@sassa.gov.za
Contact details of SASSA offices across the country: SASSA offices