How to Apply for Old Age Grants SASSA Pension 2024

South Africans who are 60 years of age or older, without a job and unable to work due to illness or injury, are eligible to receive a financial Old Age Grant (Sassa Pension) under the SASSA social welfare program. You’ll be required to complete a means test to prove your financial crisis.

Any consistent income beyond a specific limit, whether from rental income, investments, or a private pension, will disqualify you from receiving the grant. In this article, we’ll look at the procedure for how you can apply for a SASSA Old Age grant.

SASSA Old Age Grant 2024

This pension award is only for those who are citizens, permanent residents, or refugees of South Africa and is managed by the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA). As we said earlier, the applicant’s income, assets, and other financial considerations are evaluated through a means test to check their eligibility for an old age pension. After the approval of the old age grant application, the recipients will start getting money every month.

The official name of this grant was Old Age Pension, but now it’s simply termed a grant for old age. Furthermore, the government is showing its appreciation for the elderly’s service and contributions to the nation with SASSA grants.

You can check your SASSA Status here.

What is the SASSA Grant amount for Older Persons?

South Africa gives importance to the health and happiness of its elderly because of its historic culture. People in their retirement years are unable to support themselves because maintaining regular employment becomes more difficult with age. This is where SASSA grants come into play. As a result, the government chose to initiate the SASSA grant program to help people out financially so that they could go about their daily lives without stressing over how they would pay for things.

The old age grant amount date changes with age. The recent increase in SASSA old age grant amounts, effective October 1, 2023, states that those aged 60–74, receive R2,080 per month, while those aged 75 and more receive R2,100 per month. On 1 April 2024, there was an update that raised the monthly payments of the old age grant by R110 per person, bringing the total to R2,180 and R2,200 respectively.

What is the Means Test?

As we said, you require a means test to prove yourself eligible for the Old Age grant. The SASSA means test analyses the applicants’ financial situation to ensure that only eligible people get the award.

1. Assets Threshold

It is not acceptable for one individual to own assets above R1 372 800.
Assets held jointly by a married couple cannot exceed R2 745 600.

2. Income Threshold

An individual’s annual income shouldn’t exceed R96 840.
No married couple can have an annual income of more than R193 680.

Qualification Criteria for SASSA Pension

The old age pension from SASSA, like any other grant, also has certain requirements that restrict who can apply for it. The qualifying criteria are very strict to guarantee that assistance can only be granted to those who truly require it. These are:

You must be a legal resident, citizen, or refugee of South Africa.
Must live in South Africa.
Not enrolled in any other social grants.
Age must be 60 years or above.
Not residing in any state station.
If married, both of you must pass the means test.
Single applicants should make sure their annual income is less than R96 840. If married, yearly income must not exceed R193 680.
As an individual, your total assets shouldn’t be more than R1 372 800. The total value of your marital assets shouldn’t exceed R2 745 600.

How to Apply for an Old Age Grant?

When applying, you’ll have to attach certain documents with an online application to verify your eligibility for an old age grant. These are:

Provide a valid 13-digit coded South African Identity Document (ID). (If haven’t, submit an affidavit to a Commissioner of Oaths, not to SASSA officials)
If you’re a refugee, provide a refugee status consent or 13-digit refugee ID.
Proof of your marital status. (Single or Married)
Proof of your residential address.
Proof of your assets, including the amount of any real estate you own.
Previous 3 months’ bank statement.
If you did employment in the past, you must show proof of your membership in the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), also known as “Blue Book”, or a letter of resignation from your prior company.
You’ll need to give SASSA documents if you are getting any private pension.
Visit the nearest SASSA office in person or apply online for an Old Age grant. The steps are:

1. At Local Office

Visit the nearest SASSA office with the above-mentioned documents.
Fill out the application form in front of the SASSA officer.
After an interview, the officer will inform you of your eligibility for the award.
Then, you’ll get a receipt as proof you applied.

2. Through SASSA Website

Go to the SASSA official website.
Click on “grants” to see all the available grant opportunities.
Next, select “Old Age Grant” and apply for it.
Now, fill out the form and review your application carefully so that everything is accurate.
Lastly, submit the application form.

SASSA Pension Payment Process

Once your SASSA pension grant is approved, you’ll start getting the money each month. Since SASSA doesn’t have any fixed old age grant payment dates, they provide the payment schedule monthly. There are three ways in which SASSA can distribute your grant funds:

The SASSA grant will be instantly credited to your bank account.
You can get your award in cash at any local stores like Pick n Pay, Shoprite, Checkers, etc. as SASSA partners with these companies.
Get your grant money from desired institutions like old age homes, disability centers, et

What if your Application is not approved?

SASSA will provide you with written reasons if your application for SASSA Pension is rejected. At the federal level, the Minister of Social Development can hear appeals from those who are dissatisfied with the application’s evaluation.

You have 90 days from the day you received notice of application rejection to appeal. Your application processing might take up to 3 months. You’ll likely get old age grant amount for August 2024 starting on the day you apply if your application is approved.

Conclusion

The SASSA Old Age Grant offers vital financial assistance to elderly South Africans, recognizing their contributions to society. By following the application process and means test requirements, eligible individuals can easily get payments each month.

However, it’s important to regularly check the old age grant application status for those seeking updates. You can conveniently check through our website online.