SASSA Grant-in-Aid 2024 – Application & Eligibility Details

The Grant-in-Aid is a supplementary SASSA grant paid to existing social grant recipients who require permanent, full-time attendance by a caregiver.

What is the Grant-in-Aid?

• An additional monthly grant from SASSA for recipients needing full-time care
• For persons already receiving Old Age, Disability, or War Veteran’s Grants
• To pay a caregiver to help care for them if unable to care for themselves
• Due to requiring help with daily living activities because of physical or mental disabilities
• Does not get paid as a standalone grant – only as a top-up to an existing grant
• The doctor’s assessment report is required to confirm the need for permanent care
• Around 90,000 Grant-in-Aid top-ups are paid per month

Eligibility Criteria for the Grant-in-Aid

To qualify for the supplementary Grant-in-Aid, recipients must:

• Already be receiving an Older Person’s, Disability, or War Veteran’s Grant
• Have a confirmed physical or mental disability
• Require permanent, full-time attendance and care by another person
• Submit a valid doctor’s assessment report confirming the need for a caregiver
• Not being cared for in an institution that receives a state subsidy
• Pass income and means testing
• Be a South African citizen, permanent resident, or refugee with valid papers
• Be a resident of South Africa

How to Apply for the Grant-in-Aid

Existing grant recipients requiring a full-time caregiver can apply in two ways:

Online Application

• Visit the SASSA website and register on the portal
• Capture details of existing grants, disabilities, and the need for caregiver
• Upload doctor’s assessment report and other supporting documents
• Submit the completed online Grant-in-Aid application

In-Person Application

• Visit your nearest SASSA regional office and request an application form
• Complete in full and submit along with doctor’s report, ID, proof of residence, etc.
• SASSA agent will capture details and initiate the assessment process
• Return on a specified date to check the status and provide any further information

Note applicants must provide accurate personal details. Do not falsify information as this constitutes fraud.

Grant-in-Aid Documentation Needed

Applicants need to submit the following valid documentation when applying:

• Green barcoded ID book or Smart ID as proof of identity
• Confirmation of place of residence
• Doctor’s assessment report confirming disability and need for full-time care
• Proof of existing Older Person’s, Disability, or War Veteran’s grant
• Report detailing the daily living activities the recipient requires help with
• If applicable, proof of marital status and spouse’s income to assess means test

Doctor’s Assessment Report for Grant-in-Aid

A key requirement is to supply a detailed doctor’s assessment report which must:

• Be completed by a registered medical doctor who has examined the patient
• Confirm the recipient suffers from a physical or mental disability
• Provide details of the disability, including diagnosis and severity
• Specify the limitations caused by the disability which render the patient unable to care for themselves
• List the daily living activities the recipient requires permanent assistance with
• Confirm the need for a full-time caregiver to help care for the recipient
• The doctor’s assessment report must be recent (within 3 months). Old reports are not accepted.

Grant-in-Aid Amount

• R530 monthly top-up in addition to the existing grant amount
• This supplementary R530 amount does not get adjusted annually
• Paid as a top-up to Old Age, Disability, and War Veteran’s Grants only
• Recipients must continue complying with the requirements of their primary grant

The R530 aims to help cover the costs of employing a full-time caregiver.

How the Grant-in-Aid is Paid Out

SASSA distributes the Grant-in-Aid top-up in the same way as the recipient’s primary grant:

• Deposited into the bank account where the recipient’s main grant is paid
• Loaded onto the SASSA card where their main grant is loaded
• Paid in cash at the same points where the recipient collects their main grant
• Via the same money transfer methods used by the recipient for the main grant
• No separate application for the R530 top-up needs to be made.

Grant-in-Aid Payment Dates

• Paid on the same dates each month as the recipient’s primary Old Age, Disability or War Veteran’s Grant
• Appears as an R530 top-up to the main grant amount
• Collected during the 5-day payment cycle along with the primary grant
• Recipients must collect both grant amounts within 5 working days
• Unclaimed top-ups are not carried over or back-paid the next month

Check Also: SASSA Payment Dates 2024-25

Duration of the Grant-in-Aid

• The R530 top-up is re-evaluated each year when the primary grant is renewed
• Updated doctor’s assessments must be supplied confirming the ongoing need for full-time care
• Automatically terminates if the primary grant is suspended or terminated for any reason
• Lapses if the recipient no longer requires permanent attendance based on the doctor’s report

Reporting Grant-in-Aid Issues

Recipients should report any issues with the supplementary grant to SASSA without delay:

• Visit the nearest SASSA office and speak to an agent
• Call the SASSA call center helpline for assistance
• Log a query or complaint online via the SASSA Services portal
• Follow up if top-up payments are late, delayed, or missed
• Report suspected fraud related to the Grant-in-Aid

Promptly notifying SASSA of any issues allows them to investigate and resolve problems quickly.

Grant-in-Aid Fraud Consequences

It is illegal to provide false details when applying for a supplementary grant or to accept grants unethically. The consequences of grant-in-aid fraud include:

• Fines and/or imprisonment up to 12 months
• Having to repay all funds unduly received
• Being barred from receiving grants for 10 years
• A criminal record that negatively impacts job applications
• Prosecution under the Prevention and Combatting of Corrupt Activities Act

Recipients should take extreme care to provide accurate information to avoid facing criminal penalties.

FAQs about SASSA Grant-in-Aid

Conclusion

The Grant-in-Aid provides essential additional funds for social grant recipients requiring full-time care. To access this vital top-up, carefully follow the steps to apply, it will certainly make your life a little easier if you got benefit from this initiative.