The South African Social Security Agency, commonly known as SASSA, has a diverse list of grants where eligible individuals and families may receive monetary benefits. Knowing about these grants and their eligibility criteria and application processes is relevant in helping one seeking assistance from these grants in 2025. Below is a concise guide on eight very important SASSA grants.
Grant for Older Persons (Old Age Pension)
All applicants must be South African citizens or permanent residents residing in South Africa, 60 years of age and above, and must meet the income and asset thresholds. For instance, the annual income limit for a single person is set at R86,280 and assets to be worth not more than R1,227,600. For married couples, the combined annual income should be under R172,560 and the assets combined shouldn’t exceed R2,455,200.
Currently, this grant amounts to R2,090 monthly. This can be done at the nearest SASSA office or online. Required documents include a valid South African ID, proof of residence, proof of income and assets, and marital status-related documents when applicable.
Disability Grant
Persons aged between 18 and 59 years of age may apply. They must be South African citizens, permanent residents, or refugees. They must also provide medical assessment documents that state their disability as well as passing the means test.
This grant would amount to R2,090 monthly. Application must be made at a SASSA office. Required documents include a valid ID, a medical assessment report not older than three months, proof of income and assets, and proof of residence.
Child Support Grant
The child must be less than 18 years old. Both the applicant and child must be South African citizens, permanent residents, or refugees residing in South Africa. Must be the primary caregiver for the child. Income thresholds will be applied – single parents earn less than R60,000 in total annually while a couple would not exceed a threshold of R120,000.
The current monthly amount is R500 per child. By October 1, 2025, it will increase to R510. To apply, visit a SASSA office or do it online. You will also require these: the South African ID of the applicant, the child’s birth certificate, proof of residence, and proof of income.
Foster Child Grant
The child must be less than 18 years of age, a South African citizen, permanent resident or be a refugee under the applicable law, and the child has to be placed under the care of the applicant through court order.
The amount is R1,130 per child per month. Applications are done at a SASSA office and require proof of identity for the applicant, birth certificate of the child, court order and proof of residence.
Care Dependency Grant
If the child is less than 18 years of age and requires permanent care on account of a disability, an application may be made for a Care Dependency Grant. The applicant and child must either be South African citizens, permanent residents, or refugees.
Medical evidence must establish that the child requires 24-hour care because of the disability. Income and asset ceilings will be dependent on the caregiver’s income.
Size of the grant is R2,090 monthly. The application process requires supplying an ID, medical assessment, birth certificate of the child, proof of income, proof of residence, and an application at a SASSA office.
Grant-in-Aid
The Grant-in-Aid assists individuals receiving Other Disability Grants, Old Age Grants, and War Veterans Grants who require additional assistance because of their dependency status.
An amount of R510 on a monthly basis is given as a grant. The need for full-time care has to be confirmed via a medical assessment. The application must include ID copies, medical reports, and supporting documents. The application must be brought to or submitted at a SASSA office.
War Veterans Grant
Applicants should be 60 or above or disabled and should have served in World War II or the Korean War. They should be South African citizens or permanent residents and should satisfy the income and asset means test.
The grant amount is R2,110 monthly. Applicants are required to submit military service records, ID, proof of income and residence, and make an application at a SASSA office.
Social Relief of Distress Grant(SRD)
It is a temporary grant provided to people who by virtue of their severe needs require immediate assistance such as unemployed persons or those unable to meet their basic needs.
To qualify for the SRD Grant, applicants must be South African citizens, permanent residents, or refugees residing in South Africa, who are unemployed and not in receipt of any other form of income or grant support.
The grant amounts to R350 monthly, in general for a limited period. Applications are made on the SRD portal. Applicants must have an ID, cell phone number, and details of their bank account or mobile money account.