Disability grants

If you have a physical or mental disability which makes you unfit to work and unable to support yourself then the disability grant will assist you. If approved, you’ll get a pre-determined amount of money during your disability period.

The maximum amount that can be paid through the disability grant is R1860 and if your grant is approved, you’ll be paid from the date on which you applied.

There are 2 types of grants you can apply for:

• A temporary disability grant

This grant is for a person whose disability will last for a continuous period of not less than 6 months and not more than 12 months.

• A permanent disability grant

This is for someone who’ll be disabled for more than 12 months, but that doesn’t mean you’ll get the grant for life. It simply means that it will continue for longer than 12 months.

To qualify for a disability grant, you’ll need to:

• be a South African citizen, 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 valid South African identity document (ID),
• undergo a medical examination where a doctor appointed by the state will assess the degree of your disability, and
• bring along any previous medical records and reports when you make the application.

Where to apply

You can apply for a disability grant at your nearest SASSA office. If you’re too old or sick to travel to an office near you, a family member or friend can apply on your behalf.

Your application form will be completed in the presence of an officer from SASSA. When your application is completed, you’ll be given a receipt as proof of your application (make sure you keep your receipt in a safe place).

There’s no cost involved in applying for a disability grant.

What if your application is not approved?

• If your application is not approved by SASSA, you must be given valid reasons why the application has been declined  in writing.
• You have the right to ask SASSA to reconsider your application if you’re unhappy with their decision.
• This appeal must be lodged with SASSA within 90 days of you being informed of the outcome of your initial application.

How will you be paid?

When you make the application, you should say how you would like the money to 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 – for example, a home for people with disabilities.

You can decide to change the payment method at any time by filling in a form at a SASSA office, but the change will only happen a month later.

Grant reviews

A review is carried out to check that your circumstances have not changed since you applied for the grant or were last reviewed.

SASSA must notify you in writing at least 3 months before the date of your review indicating where and when your review will take place and what might happen as a result of it. If you are bed-ridden, home visits are arranged to accommodate you.

Once the review has been completed, make sure that you receive a receipt of compliance from the SASSA official.

The following may result in the suspension of a grant:

• if you die,
• if you are admitted to a state institution.
• if your income or assets improve so much that you no longer qualify in terms of the means test, or
• in the case of a temporary disability grant, when the period of the temporary disability lapsed.

Remember that it is your responsibility to inform the department of any changes in your circumstances and means. This includes changes in either your physical or postal addresses and/or banking details. Failure to do so may result in the suspension of your grant.

The disability grant will be cancelled:

• if you die,
• if you are admitted to a state institution,
• if your income or assets improve so much that you no longer qualify in terms of the means test, or
• in the case of a temporary disability grant, when the period of the temporary disability had lapsed.

Remember that it is your responsibility to inform the department of any changes in your circumstances and means. This includes changes in either your physical or postal addresses and/or banking details. Failure to do so may result in the suspension of your grant.

Disability grant during Covid-19

Temporary disability grants that expired in March 2020

SASSA has provided a solution to temporary disability grants which lapsed or expired in March 2020 resulting in some beneficiaries not being paid.

In order to deal with this unintended consequence of the lockdown, SASSA is providing social relief of distress in the form of food parcels to beneficiaries whose disability grants expired in April 2020 as an interim measure to cushion the impact of the termination of the grant benefit.

Measures have been introduced for the vulnerable, destitute and needy throughout South Africa.

Please contact the SASSA toll free number: 0800 60 10 11, or Email: GrantEnquiriesWC@sassa.gov.za for more details. You can also follow them on Facebook or Twitter 

General enquiries can be directed to SASSA Western Cape Regional office:

Tel: 021 469 0200

Email: grantsenquiriesWC@sassa.gov.za

You can also visit your nearest SASSA office or call SASSA’s toll-free helpline on 0800 601 011 for more information on:

• pay-out dates,
• qualifying rules for all government grants,
• district office addresses and contact numbers,
• for help with what has happened to your application, or
• how you can also report any fraud or corruption.