HIV has taken thousands of lives in South Africa that require health care support. The SASSA HIV grant actually falls under the category of disability grant and is almost R2180 per month. An expected increment in this grant is R10 from October.
The grant is disbursed for a period of six months to twelve months. A medical report is mandatory that must show the CD4 count. You can plan a visit to a professional doctor before applying for this social benefit.
The grant can help in covering the daily routine expenses or medical costs. These expenses can vary from person to person so the SASSA wants to make sure that a lump sum amount is awarded to the needy people.
The eligibility criteria are not much different but require some additional documents. With all these crucial details this blog will inform you about the application process for an HIV grant. There are different methods that you can adopt to receive the funds after the confirmation.
What is SASSA HIV Grant?
The HIV grants by SASSA are a very crucial step taken by the government to improve the lives of the individuals who are fighting with HIV. In order to meet financial requirements the government is offering a special grant to South African citizens who are between 18 to 59 years old.
The patient must have medical proof of their illness which includes a report by a medical practitioner. This report should indicate the CD4 counts and some other requirements. The HIV aid falls in the category of disability grant which can be physical or mental.
If someone is unable to work for more than 6 months due to illness then he can apply for this grant. It is a temporary help that can last not more than 12 months. The people can however extend the time period after the revaluation process by the office.
The primary benefit of this grant is that it can help you receive the therapies and treatments that are necessary to manage AIDs. For the well-being of the recipients, the SASSA aims to grant them a primary benefit in terms of social grants.
SASSA HIV Grant Eligibility
The eligibility criteria for the HIV grant demand special requirements. The essential information is required relevant to the applicant or a person who is applying on his behalf. A detailed description of all the requirements is mentioned in this section.
A permanent resident or refugee who is living in any state of South Africa can apply for this grant. The refugees can submit additional proof and a letter issued by the government.
This benefit is for people who are less than 59 years old and over 18 years old. This is because the other age groups may receive different benefits from SASSA.
A bar-coded ID card or passport that verifies the citizenship of a recipient.
The mean test for the HIV grant is different for married and unmarried people.
A single person’s yearly income should not be more than R86,280.
The income criteria for a married individual is R172,560 on an annual basis
It also includes assets that are not more than R122,760,0 if you are single. If you are married then it should be less than R2 455,200
A complete medical examination is held by a professional doctor with the report that determines the CD4 counts. The doctor can also forward this report directly to the SASSA. The report should be latest and not older than three months.
The applicant should not be receiving any type of assistance or care from a state institution.
There shall be no other grants in progress by the SASSA.
Important Note
If someone needs permanent care due to the disability then the caregiver can also apply for the care dependency grant. An affidavit is required to prove yourself as an actual caregiver of the patient.
How to apply?
Individuals struggling with AIDS require health care services and financial support. There are several steps involved while applying for the HIV grant Via the online website of SASSA. We have attempted to explain these steps in detail for the ease of the readers.
Visit Website
Visiting the SASSA website is a primary task that you need to perform first. Access the online portal of the website and then make a professional ID. The registration link is present on the website and requires different details and personal information.
Application From
The users can log in with the relevant ID and password on the website and get access to the portal. This website will offer an application section for different grants. You can select the HIV grant or disability grant section.
Complete Application Form
The users can fill out the specific form online by entering their personal information. This information can include the contact details, address, and ID number. There are a lot of other sections in the form that are relevant to your grant and personal information.
The users will provide detailed information on the medical conditions and also upload supporting documents such as medical reports.
Upload online
The specific documents can include proof of residency, mean test proof ( income statement from the bank) ID card, and medical report. You should take pictures of these documents and upload them online.
Review And Submit
Review the application in detail if there is any missing element or section. After the submission of this application along with the supporting documents you will receive a notification message from SASSA.
Take Follow Ups
Taking follow ups is as necessary as submitting the information. The users can contact the SASSA in different ways to extract the additional information. We will elaborate on this in upcoming sections.
How to Apply Offline?
The online process for applying for the HIV grant is beneficial but not for all. If someone needs personal assistance and does not have much understanding about the different grants by SASSA then he or she can choose the in-person method to process the application.
Required Documentation
Prior to starting the offline process, the users need to gather all the required documents. These documents include the Valid ID of the recipient that proves the citizenship. You should also have a medical assessment report confirming the diagnosis of HIV or AIDs.
Visit SASSA Office
Find the nearby location of the SASSA office in your city. If you are living in a village then it can take some time to access the location. After reaching the office the users can collect the application form or can also download it from the official website.
Fill Out Application
Fill out the form including all the details that are personal, financial, or medical. The information should be correct and up to date. The manual process can take more time and accuracy while filing the form with the ink pen.
Submit Application
The people can submit the application with all the supporting documents to the nearby office. The specific representative in the office can revise the form. However, you can also send a caregiver or other person on your behalf.
Medical Examination
The applicant will undergo a medical examination by the doctor that will verify this medical condition. You need to provide an additional medical record that can prove your permanent and temporary disability.
Verification
The SASSA will review all the details that you have mentioned in the application. It will also check the financial status of the applicant as per the eligibility criteria. This verification can take some days but if the application is approved then your grant will be started from the same date.
Notification of Outcome
The SASSA will communicate with the applicant in writing or can send a text message. If the grant is approved then you will start receiving the payments without any delay.
Appeals Process
The appeal process in this process is necessary to understand for those whose application is rejected. The individual can reapply for the grant to SASSA and if the results are the same then he can appeal to the Ministry of social development for South Africa.
HIV Grant BY SASSA Disbursed to the Beneficiaries?
A crucial thing to comprehend in the current situation is how you can receive grants from the SASSA. These grants are issued on a monthly basis but the time period can be different for different channels to collect it.
Bank Account Deposit
The applicants can give their personal banking details to the office. This information will help collect the money in the bank account. The beneficiaries can thus access their funds through the ATMs of bank branches. The branch code and other details are mandatory.
SASSA Card
SASSA offers a golden card with the partnership of post offices or post banks. This card is similar to the debit card that has a specific amount to withdraw. You can take it to the various outlets and receive the cash. The people can also buy some groceries with this card.
Cash Payments Points
The SASSA offers designated points to withdraw the grant funds. These points are usually shopping centers, community centers, or stores. For instance, the users can also withdraw cash from the post office.
Choosing a Payment Method
It is necessary to choose a preferable payment method. The different methods have their advantages and disadvantages. If you do not provide the relevant details for the banking then the payment can be stuck and delayed.
The beneficiaries can also request the SASSA to change the payment methods as per their convenience. There are a lot of other perks you can enjoy if you are registered with this financial aid service program.
How to check status of SASSA HIV Grant
Checking the status of SASSA disability or HIV grant application is crucial to stay informed about the progress and any actions needed from your side. Here are different methods to check the status of your SASSA grant.
Online Status Check
The official website of SASSA is unrestricted for the public to access online. This website has an online portal that can let you check the status of HIV applications. The users need to enter the SASSA ID number or the reference number of the application to get the results.
USSD Code
This method works on mobile devices. You need to dial a USSD code that is *120*69277# on a phone to confirm the status. This method can charge you a specific amount. Moreover, you can confirm the prompts after dialing this code.
SASSA Toll-Free Number
The toll-free number of SASSA is 0800 60 10 11. The people can give them a call and request the details for a specific application. Moreover, you can ask other things about the grant from the operator. This number might not help you on off days or in the late hours.
SMS Service
The SMS service for SASSA is available on WhatsApp. The users can add 082 046 8553 in their phone directory and then open the WhatsApp application. Write any message to SASSA and select the option of a status check from different automated prompts.
Visit SASSA Office
The nearby SASSA office is good to visit when you have easy access to it. The people can bring the relevant documentation and ID card with them. The office will check the latest status of the application and also guide you about the next process.
Email Inquiry
The Email inquiry is not an instant approach but is helpful in many cases. The people can send a formal email with their official ID including the reference number and full name to [email protected]. The department will respond back in some time.
SASSA Mobile App
The application is available on the Google Play Store and Apple Store which can give you access to the SASSA portal. This application requires credentials and login information. You can register yourself on it and access the portal to know about the latest status of the application.
Important considerations while processing applications for HIV Grants To SASSA
Before submitting any documents and application you should confirm the eligibility criteria for the HIV grant. This includes the medical condition and residency proof. This will help you get early access to the grant without any complications.
Necessary Documentation
Some documents are really important for the HIV grants. The proof of income can be the income statements and other financial documents. There should be relevant and up-to-date information. The income statements can be collected from the bank etc.
Schedule a Medical Assessment
Book an early appointment with a medical officer who is registered. This report is crucial to provide your permanent or temporary disability. The grant will be awarded based on the medical condition of a person.
Thorough Application
While submitting the manual application, complete all the sections. The errors on the form can cause rejection or temporary delays. You need to submit the form if there are any mistakes. The SASSA will verify your details with the original documents.
Regularly CheckStatus
The SASSA gives you an approximately 30 days time period to reapply for the grant in case of rejection. So check the online status and watch for any discrepancies. Addressing the issues promptly will help you correct errors on time.
Maintain Records
Manting the copy of the records and documents. For instance, the SASSA will give you a receipt and generate an ID number. This number will help you get access to the online portal. These copies can also assist you in performing other legal or official tasks related to the HIV grant.
Conclusion
When applying for the SASSA grants the people must clarify a few things. This includes the eligibility criteria and the right way of submitting documents. The HIV grants are not different from the disability grants.
This is a kind of benefit that is related to temporary or permanent disability. You can extend the grant after six months and need to apply after regular intervals.
The latest amount for the HIV grants for the year 2024 is R2180. This amount can cover the basic living expenses and medical costs for a patient. You can collect this payment from the designated outlets by SASSA or from a personal bank account.
