SASSA urges beneficiaries to apply for Grant-in-Aid

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) calls on frail elderly people and disability grant recipients to apply for a Grant-in-Aid (GIA).

Applicants meeting the criteria and applying for the first time may as well apply for the GIA.

The GIA is the supplementary grant to the value of R530 paid over and above the usual social grant.

SASSA says beneficiaries who are frail and unable to cater for their daily will receive this payment.

“An older person, war veteran, or disability grant recipient who is incapacitated at home and unable to go to our SASSA office may, with the help of a family member or caregiver, request a home visit from SASSA and obtain a medical assessment form.

“After completion of this by the beneficiary, SASSA will send a doctor to conduct an assessment at the beneficiary’s home. This will confirm if the beneficiary qualifies for the Grant-in-Aid,” said Nandi Mosia, the SASSA-Gauteng spokesperson.

She stressed that SASSA would first confirm if a beneficiary is eligible for a home visit before allocating a doctor.

To qualify, you must meet these criteria:

• Must already receive a disability grant or older persons grant. However, when an older person makes a new application, and it is clear the client will require full-time care, the GIA assessment should be done as soon as possible.

• Must not be able to look after yourself due to your physical or mental disability and therefore need full-time care from someone else.

• Must not be cared for in an institution that receives a subsidy from the government.

If an application for the GIA is successful, a beneficiary will get an additional R530 monthly over and above their social grant. The grant will be paid with your social grant.

SASSA will pay the grant to a beneficiary through one of these methods:

• An electronic deposit into your bank or Postbank account.

• An institution acting as the grant administrator (for example, a welfare organisation).

“If the application is not approved, SASSA will inform the client in writing about why it was unsuccessful. If a client disagrees with the decision, they can appeal to the Minister of Social Development. An appeal must be made within 90 days of being notified that the application was unsuccessful,” she said.

SASSA reminds beneficiaries that its services are free.

Call the SASSA toll-free number on 080 060 1011 or 011 241 8324 or go to https://services.sassa.gov.za from 07:30 to 16:00 during weekdays (Monday to Friday).