SASSA Disability Grant Application

Table of Contents

About a Disability Grant

If you have a physical or mental disability which makes you unfit to work for a period of longer than six months, you can apply for a disability grant.

You get a permanent disability grant if your disability will continue for more than a year and a temporary disability grant if your disability will last for a continuous period of not less than six months and not more than 12 months. A permanent disability grant does not mean you will receive the grant for life, but that it will continue for longer than 12 months.

How do you know if you qualify?

To qualify, you must:

be a South African citizen or permanent resident or refugee and living in South Africa at the time of application
be between 18 and 59 years old
not be cared for in a state institution
have a 13-digit, bar-coded identity document (ID)
not earn more than R86 280 if you are single or R172 560 if married.
not have assets worth more than R1 227 600 if you are single or R2 455 200 if you are married
undergo a medical examination where a doctor appointed by the state will assess the degree of your disability
bring along any previous medical records and reports when you make the application and when the assessment is done.

The doctor will complete a medical report and will forward the report to South African Social Security Agency (SASSA).

The report is valid for three months from the date you are assessed.

Note: If you are under 18 and need permanent care due to your disability, your primary caregiver can apply for a Care Dependency Grant. If you don’t have an ID, you will be required to complete an affidavit and provide proof of having applied for the document from the Department of Home Affairs. If you have not applied for an ID, you must do so within three months of applying for the grant.

How much will you get?

The maximum is R1 980 per month.

How will you be paid?

A grant will be paid to you through one of the following methods:

cash at a specific pay point on a particular day
electronic deposit into your bank account, including Postbank (the bank may charge you for the service)
an institution not funded by the State – e.g. home for people with disabilities.

When may your grant be suspended?

The following may result in the suspension of your grant:

when your circumstances change
the outcome of a review
if you fail to co-operate when your grant is reviewed
when you commit fraud or misrepresent yourself
if there was a mistake when your grant was approved.

When may your grant lapse?

The grant will lapse when you:

pass away
are admitted to a state institution
do not claim for three consecutive months
are absent from the country.

Please note: If you are admitted to an institution that has a contract with the state to care for you, the grant is reduced to 25% of the maximum amount of the grant. That will be done with effect from the fourth month following your admission to that institution. The reduced grant is re-instated immediately from the date you are discharged from the institution.

SASSA Disability Grant Application Requirement

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

The applicant must be a South African citizen, permanent resident or refugee.
The applicant must be resident in South Africa.
The applicant must be 18 to 59 years of age.
The applicant must submit a medical / assessment report confirming permanent, severe disability.
The applicant’s medical assessment must not be older than 3 months at date of application.
The applicant and spouse must meet the requirements of the means test.
The applicant must not be maintained or cared for in a State Institution.
The applicant must not be in receipt of another social grant in respect of him or herself.

SEE MORE GRANTS:

SASSA Care Dependency Grant Application

SASSA Child Support Grant Application

What you should do

Complete a disability grant application form at your nearest South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) office in the presence of a SASSA officer.
Submit the following:
- Your 13-digit bar-coded identity document (ID). If you don’t have an ID:
  - You must complete an affidavit on a standard SASSA format in the presence of a Commissioner of Oaths who is not a SASSA official.
  - You must bring a sworn statement signed by a reputable person (like a councillor, traditional leader, social worker, minister of religion or school principal) who can verify your name and age.
  - The SASSA official will take your fingerprints.
  - You will be referred to the Department of Home Affairs to apply for the ID while your application is processed. If you don’t get an ID, your grant will be suspended.
- A medical report and functional assessment report confirming your disability.
- Proof of marital status (if applicable).
- Proof of residence.
- Proof of income or dividends (if any).
- Proof of assets, including the municipal value of your property.
- Proof of private pension (if any).
- Your bank statements for the past three months.
- Refugee status permit and 13-digit refugee ID.
- Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) document (‘blue book’) or discharge certificate from your previous employer if you were employed.
- A copy of the will and the first and final liquidation and distribution accounts, if your spouse died within the last five years.
After submitting your application you will be given a receipt to keep as proof of application.

What if your application is not approved?

The social security office will inform you in writing whether or not your application was successful.
If your grant is not approved, the social security office will state the reasons why your application was unsuccessful. You can then appeal to the Minister of Social Development in writing, explaining why you disagree.
Appeal within 90 days of receiving notification about the outcome of your application.

How long does it take

It may take up to three months to process your application.
If your grant is approved, you will be paid from the day you applied.