Sassa Grants

by

Sassa grants: who qualifies, and how do you apply?

Read on to find out if you are eligible to receive financial assistance from the government.

Types of grants

Social Assistance is provided in the form of:
• Grant for older persons;
• Disability grant;
• War veterans grant;
• Care dependency grant;
• Foster child grant;
• Child support grant;
• Grant-in-aid;
• Social relief of distress.

Qualifying Requirements

Grant for Older Persons
The applicant:
• Must be a South African citizen, permanent resident or refugee
• Must be resident in South Africa;
• Must be 60 years or older and spouse must comply with the means test;
• Must not be maintained or cared for in a state institution;
• Must not be in receipt of another social grant for him/ herself;
• Must submit a 13 digit bar coded identity document or s or the smart ID card.

Disability Grant
The applicant:
• Must be a South African citizen, permanent resident or refugee;
• Must be resident in South Africa;
• Must be 18 to 59 years of age;
• Must submit a medical / assessment report confirming disability;
• Medical assessment must not be older than 3 months at date of application, and spouse meet the requirements of the means test;
• Must not be maintained or cared for in a state institution;
• Must not be in receipt of another social grant in respect of him or herself.
• Must submit a 13 digit bar coded identity document; the smart ID card.

War Veteran’s Grant
The applicant:
• Must be a South African citizen or permanent resident;
• Must be resident in South Africa;
• Must be 60 years and over or must be disabled;
• Must have fought in the Second World War or the Korean War  and spouse must meet the requirements of the means test;
• Must not be maintained or cared for in a state institution;
• Must not be in receipt of another social grant in respect of himself or herself;
• Must submit a 13 digit bar coded identity document; the smart ID card.
Child Grants
Foster Child Grant
• The applicant and child must be resident in South Africa;
• Must provide a court order indicating foster care status;
• The foster parent must be a South African citizen, permanent resident or refugee.
• Child must remain in the care of the foster parent(s)
• Foster parent must provide a 13 digit bar coded identity document; the smart ID card
• Must provide a birth certificate for the foster child.
Care Dependency Grant
• The applicant must be a South African citizen, permanent resident or refugee;
• The applicant and child must be resident in South Africa;
• Child must be under the age of 18 years;
• Must submit a medical / assessment report confirming the child’s permanent, severe disability;
• Applicant and spouse must meet requirements of the means test (except for foster parents);
• The care-dependent child/children must not be permanently cared for in a state institution;
• Must provide birth certificate for the child;
• The applicant must supply a 13 digit bar coded identity document;
Note: the income of foster parents will not be taken into consideration.

Child Support Grant
• The primary care giver must be a South African citizen, permanent resident or refugee;
• Both the applicant and the child must reside in South Africa;
• The child must be 18 years of age or younger;
• Must provide a birth certificate for the child;
• Must provide a 13 digit bar coded identity document for the applicant;
• Applicant must be the primary care giver of the child/children concerned;
• The child/children must have been born after 31 December 1993;
• The applicant and spouse must meet the requirements of the means test;
• Cannot apply for more than six non biological children
• Child can not be cared for in state institution.
• It should be noted that one of the intentions of the child support grant is to ensure that children attend and complete schooling. It is therefore a requirement that a school attendance certificate be produced for children aged between 7and 18 years. However, failure to produce this certificate or failure to attend school will not result in the refusal to pay their child support grant.

Where Do You Apply For A Grant?
• You apply at the SASSA Office nearest to where you live;
• If you are too old or sick to travel to the office to apply for a grant, then a familymember or friend can apply on your behalf; with a letter from you as applicant authorising the application;
• Alternatively you may call the SASSA office to request a home visit;
• Your application form will be completed in the presence of an officer from SASSA;
• When your application is completed you will be given a receipt;
• Keep this receipt – it is your only proof of application;
• You do not have to pay any money to apply;
• If your application is not approved by SASSA, you must be informed in writing as to why your application was unsuccessful;
• You have the right to request SASSA to reconsider its decision, if you are unhappy with the decision made. If the reconsidered decision is still unfavourable, you have the right to appeal to the Minister of Social Development. The request for SASSA to reconsider its decision must be made within 90 days of you being informed of the outcome of your application.

Overview of Public Universities in South Africa

Here's an overview of some public universities in South Africa, including general admissions requirements and estimated application periods. Keep in mind, specific program requirements and dates can vary significantly, so it's important to check each university's official website for the most current information.

University of Pretoria

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with minimum scores in specific subjects related to the chosen program; for international students, equivalent qualifications.
  • Application Period: Usually opens in March and closes at the end of July for most programs.

University of Cape Town

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with pass levels required for degree study; subject-specific requirements depending on the program.
  • Application Period: Application opens in April and closes at the end of July.

Stellenbosch University

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with required marks; some programs have additional testing.
  • Application Period: Opens in March and typically closes at the end of June.

University of the Witwatersrand

  • Admissions Requirements: Matriculation certificate with university exemption; required scores vary by faculty.
  • Application Period: Begins in March and ends on the 30th of September.

University of Johannesburg

  • Admissions Requirements: Matric exemption with a minimum APS score; specific subject requirements based on the faculty.
  • Application Period: Opens in April and generally closes by the 30th of September.

University of the Free State

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with specific marks for the program applied to; additional requirements for certain courses.
  • Application Period: Typically opens in April and closes at the end of August.

University of Venda

  • Admissions Requirements: Completion of the National Senior Certificate with an endorsement for diploma or degree studies; specific APS scores needed.
  • Application Period: Usually from May to September.

University of Fort Hare

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with university exemption; certain programs may have specific requirements.
  • Application Period: Opens around May and closes at the end of September.

University of the Western Cape

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with specific performance levels; additional requirements for certain programs.
  • Application Period: Generally from May to September.

North-West University

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with university exemption; program-specific requirements may apply.
  • Application Period: Opens in March and usually closes by the end of August.

Rhodes University

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate or equivalent; minimum academic performance in certain subjects.
  • Application Period: Applications open in April and close at the end of September.

Nelson Mandela University

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with required scores for chosen programs; portfolio or additional tests for some faculties.
  • Application Period: Opens in April, with a deadline at the end of August for most programs.

Cape Peninsula University of Technology

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with specific scores; additional requirements for certain courses.
  • Application Period: Opens in May and typically closes by the end of September.

University of Limpopo

  • Admissions Requirements: Senior Certificate with endorsement for diploma or degree courses; specific APS scores for different programs.
  • Application Period: From April to September.

University of Zululand

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with an endorsement for bachelor’s degree studies; specific score requirements for various programs.
  • Application Period: Usually between April and November.

Central University of Technology

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with specific scores for the chosen field of study; additional criteria for certain programs.
  • Application Period: Application period generally starts in May and ends in October.

Vaal University of Technology

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with a pass that qualifies for admission to bachelor’s degree, diploma, or higher certificate programs.
  • Application Period: Typically from May to September.

Walter Sisulu University

  • Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with required scores for chosen programs; additional criteria for certain faculties.
  • Application Period: From April to September.

This list provides a starting point for understanding the admissions landscape across South Africa's diverse higher education institutions. Given the variability in programs and requirements, it's crucial to consult each university's website for the most accurate and up-to-date information.