SASSA Eligibility Criteria for Applicant and Recipient

The eligibility criteria for SASSA grants can vary depending on the specific grant you’re applying for, but here’s a general overview for applicants and recipients:

SASSA General Criteria

The eligibility criteria for SASSA grants vary depending on the specific grant you’re interested in. However, some general criteria apply to most, if not all, grants:

• Citizenship/ Residency: You must be a South African citizen, permanent resident, or refugee permanently residing in South Africa.
• Age: This varies depending on the grant. For example, the Older Persons Grant requires you to be at least 60 years old, while the Child Support Grant has no lower age limit but requires the child to be under 18.
• Income: Your income must fall below a certain threshold. This threshold also varies depending on the grant and your marital status. For example, in 2023, the income limit for the Older Persons Grant is R172,560 per year for married couples and R86,280 per year for single individuals.
• Residency: You and the beneficiary (if applicable) must be resident in South Africa.
• Institutionalization: You cannot be cared for in a state institution.
• Other social grants: You cannot receive another social grant for yourself.

Specific Grant Criteria

Before considering the following sassa criteria below, be sure to meet the general criteria above.

Child Support Grant:

• • You must be the primary caregiver of the child.
  • The child must be a South African citizen or reside legally in South Africa.

Disability Grant:

• • You must have a disability that is likely to be permanent and prevents you from being gainfully employed.
  • You must undergo a medical assessment to determine your eligibility.

Older Persons Grant:

• • You must be at least 60 years old.

Foster Child Grant:

• • You must be the primary caregiver of a child in foster care.
  • The child must be a South African citizen or reside legally in South Africa.

Recipient Eligibility

Maintaining eligibility: Recipients must continue to meet the eligibility criteria for their specific grant. This might involve;

• Regular income checks
• Updates on disability status
• Updates on residency confirmation

Reporting changes: Recipients must report any changes that may affect their eligibility, such as;

• Changes in income
• Changes employment
• Changes in living arrangements

Compliance with conditions: Some grants may have specific conditions attached, such as;

• Participating in community service
• Attending healthcare appointments

Recipients must comply with these conditions to maintain their grant.

For More Information:

Visit the SASSA website or contact their call centre.

• Sassa Website: https://www.sassa.gov.za/
• Sassa Tel.: 0860 00-SASSA (0860 00-72772).