SASSA Grant-In-Aid

The Grant-In-Aid (GIA) is a payment from the government of South Africa, to current social grant recipients who are unable to care for themselves, in order for them to pay someone to take care of them full-time.

The value of the Grant-In-Aid is R530 per month, as of 1 October 2024. The next increase will be in April 2025.

If you would like to find out more about the Grant-In-Aid, carry on reading.

What are the requirements to apply for the Grant-In-Aid?
How do I apply for the Grant-In-Aid?
When will I receive the outcome of my Grant-In-Aid?
How will I get paid my Grant-In-Aid?
Why was my Grant-In-Aid application suspended?
Why did my Grant-In-Aid application lapse?
How do I contact SASSA for any queries I have regarding my Grant-In-Aid application?

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SASSA GRANT-IN-AID

In order to apply for the SASSA Grant-In-Aid, it is important that you meet the criteria to apply (note that these criteria are subject to change). The criteria is as follows:

You must be receiving an Older Persons grant, a Disability grant or a War Veteran’s grant
You must meet the criteria of one of the above grants
You must be unable to care for yourself, due to a physical or mental disability and require full-time assistance
You must have a valid medical report or assessment report confirming that you need full-time care (from a private doctor or state doctor)
You must NOT be receiving care in a state institution

READ ABOUT: Other types of grants
SRD R350 Grant Care Dependency Grant Child Support Grant Foster Child Grant
Disability Grant Older Persons Grant Grant-In-Aid War Veterans Grant

APPLYING FOR THE SASSA GRANT-IN-AID

Apply for the Grant-In-Aid by visiting a SASSA office close to you or you may apply online (read instructions on how to apply online via the SASSA services website here).

The application form is available at the SASSA office and must be completed in the presence of a SASSA officer. A SASSA officer will be able to assist you or your appointed person, to complete the application form if you or they are unable to do so.

Applicants may apply for the Grant-In-Aid at the same time they apply for the older persons grant, disability grant or war veteran’s grant.

If you are unable to visit the SASSA office yourself, due to being too sick, old or disabled, you may have a family member or friend apply for you, by way of a power of attorney. This person is your procurator and they will be able to legally apply or receive your social grant on your behalf.

As part of the Grant-In-Aid application, applicants will be required to submit a valid medical report or assessment report, of not less than 3 months old, to confirm they require full-time care. The medical report can be conducted by a state doctor or a private doctor.

You will be interviewed, have your fingerprints taken and given information on whether you qualify for the grant.

You will receive a dated stamped receipt, with the name of the SASSA official who assisted in the application. You will need to keep your receipt as proof of application.

The application process is completely FREE.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED WHEN APPLYING FOR A GRANT-IN-AID

Applicants must take along the following documents when applying for the disability grant through SASSA (these must be original documents or certified copies):

A completed and signed Affidavit for SASSA Grant-In-Aid
ID Document
Medical report or medical assessment report confirming your disability (less than 3 months old)
Proof of marital status – (if you are single: an affidavit stating so, if you are married: your marriage certificate and your spouses ID document, if you are divorced: your divorce order, if your spouse is deceased: their death certificate)

GRANT OUTCOME

Applications are assessed within 30 business day, after which time you will be informed in writing, whether your application was approved or rejected. If you were rejected, SASSA will provide a reason for your rejection.

You will be able to request SASSA to reassess your application if it was rejected. Download the Application for Reconsideration of SASSA Grant here.

If after reconsidering, your application is still rejected, you may appeal to the Minister of Social Development.

Approved applicants will start receiving payments within 3 months of applying. Payments will be backdated to when you applied.

GRANT PAYMENTS

After your grant is approved, you will be paid on the date on which you applied. You can find the SASSA payment date here.

Your Disability Grant will be paid in any of these 3 ways (depending on your preference):

Directly into your bank account (this must be a bank account in your name)
Collected in cash from approved pay points (using your SASSA gold card)
From specific institutions

CHANGING GRANT PAYMENT METHOD

Recently, a Postbank payment glitch left many grant recipients stranded and unable to access their grants. For this reason (or perhaps another reason), you may wish to change your grant payment method from the SASSA Gold Card into your own personal bank account.

If you would like your grant to be paid into your bank account, you will need to complete the Consent Form for Bank Payment of SASSA Grant, as well as provide the following documents: proof of identity (ID document/ birth certificate/ drivers license) and proof of bank account in your name (received from the bank) or 3 months bank statement showing your personal details (name and bank account number).

All of these documents must be submitted to a SASSA office near you. Alternatively, you may visit your nearest SASSA branch and they will assist you in how to change your payment method. Note that the new payment method will come into effect the following month.

If you are unable to collect your grant yourself, you may nominate someone to collect it for you.

Your Grant-In-Aid will be paid at the same time as your main grant.

GRANT REVIEWS

Applications are reviewed to verify that grant-holders still meet the criteria of the grant, to continue receiving the grant. Applications are reviewed to assess whether your circumstances have changed.

Applicants will receive a notification in writing from SASSA, 3 months before applications are to be reviewed. The notification will inform you when and where the review will be conducted and what will happen after the review. Applicants who are bed-ridden will receive a home visit. After the review has been completed, you will receive a receipt of compliance.

Applicants who are refugees will have their application reviewed when their refugee status expires.

GRANT-IN-AID SUSPENSION

Your grant may be suspended due to the following reasons:

Your circumstances change – either financially or medically and you no longer meet the means test
You provided false or incorrect information in your application
You failed to co-operate when the grant is reviewed
Outcome of a review
The grant was approved when it should not have been

GRANT-IN-AID RESTORATION

If your grant was suspended due to any of the reasons above, you may apply to have the grant restored within 90 days of receiving the suspension.

GRANT-IN-AID LAPSE

Your grant may lapse due to the following reasons:

The grant holder has died
The grant holder was admitted into a state-funded institution
The grant holder is no longer receiving full-time care
The grant has not been claimed for 3 consecutive months

GRANT-IN-AID NOTES

As a grant holder, it is your responsibility to:

keep SASSA updated with regards to changes to your personal and financial circumstances
keep SASSA updated with regards to changes to your physical address or contact details

Applicants must inform SASSA immediately of any changes to the above, as official notices are sent to your most recent address by registered mail. If you do not receive or act upon the notices, your grant may be suspended.

SASSA will not tolerate any fraudulent activities.

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