The financial demands of caregiving can cause stress and depression in families. To overcome these issues the SASSA is providing Care Dependency grants to disabled or mentally retarded children. Hence, this article will explore the SASSA Care Dependency Grant and its Eligibility Standards in 2024.
This social benefit plays a vital role in supporting the children of South Africa who have severe disabilities. The foster parents, primary caregivers, and biological parents can receive this aid if they fulfill the eligibility criteria.
The caregiver should present the medical report of the child that is not older than three months. For the supplementary information, you can read this blog in detail. It attempts to cover the essential details regarding this special grant by SASSA.
Purpose of SASSA Care Dependency Grant
The care dependency grant by SASSA aims to provide financial assistance to children who have severe disabilities. The caregivers are those persons who will take care of these children. This grant alleviates the financial burden of the poor families.
The children will receive the necessary care by offering them financial support. They also require medical attention and other services that are not affordable by the caregivers. The quality of the life of a child can be improved by receiving this grant.
These kids also require special education and a home environment. To enhance their well being this aid plays a crucial role. Disabled childs should also be treated as other kids and should be provided with an equal standard of life.
This grant is provided until the child reaches 18 years old. So the government of South Africa is making sure to overcome the financial constraints and foster inclusiveness in the society.
Eligibility Criteria For Care Dependency Grant By SASSA
The eligibility criteria for the care dependency grants are somewhat similar to the other ones. However, there are some exceptional requirements that you must comprehend. You can apply for this grant after qualifying these conditions.
Residency and Citizenship
An applicant must be a national of South Africa and living in the country at the time of submitting applications. He must have the proof of residence along with the other required documents.
Age of the Child
The age of the child should be under 18. If he or she reaches above 18 years then the grant will be disqualified instantly.
Medical Assessment
The medical assessment report for the care dependency is required because it will determine the type of disability. On behalf of this report, the authorities will make the decision. It must be issued by a medical professional.
Income threshold
The income threshold of parents or spouses is determined on an annual basis. They need to present the income statement and other financial records in order to clear the mean test.
Care Arrangement
The care-dependent child should be under observation of the parents or guardians. You must not be getting any type of assistance from another state institution.
Document Requirements
Some of the essential documents required to qualify eligibility criteria are birth certificates, medical reports, and proof of residency.
Additional Considerations
A trusted family member can also apply for the grants due to the illness of the parents. He must prove himself as a primary caregiver of the child. The foster parent can also apply for this fund and in some cases you need court orders as well.
Required Documents
Before applying for this special grant the individuals require some important documents. You should prevent them in front of the official authorities in order to revive the aids. We are going to mention some relevant documents to care for dependency grants.
- A birth certificate or ID Card of the child and caregiver.
- If you don’t have a birth certificate then you need to submit an affidavit.
- The medical report by a professional practitioner proves the child’s disability.
- Proof of the marital status and in case of separation present a divorce certificate.
- Income proof documents such as the past three months’ bank statements and pension receipts.
If you are a foster parent then there is no need to present income proof. In this case, you need a special court order.
Grant Amount
This is a special grant that provides financial assistance to the disabled or mentally ill child. The caregivers or parents will receive the monthly grant with the revised package.
In the month of January 2024, the grant amount was R2,090 as per the eligibility criteria. But in the month of April, the amount has increased and is now R2,100. The increment is almost R10 per child.
You can receive this adequate package in the first week of every month. It is deposited on a monthly basis in the bank account. You need to verify the dates of disbursement on the official website of SASSA.
How to Apply?
To apply for the older age or other grants there is a straightforward process. But when you are applying for the care dependency grant then there are some special requirements. We will try to cover the different steps in this section.
Doctor’s Assessment
The initial step is to go to a doctor and verify the child’s disability or mental condition. The doctor should be a certified professional who can give you a proper medical report. The report should not be older than three months.
Submission Options
There are several options to apply for the grant. For instance, you can use the online website of the SASSA or visit the branch in person. Both of these methods are favorable as per the preferences of the individuals.
Assistance for Applicants
In certain circumstances such as age or illness, the parents send another trustworthy family member or friend to apply on their behalf. The applicant should go to the office with a doctor’s note that explains the conditions for a proxy application.
Application Forms
The applicants can collect the application form from the branch of SASSA or can download it from the website. It is good to complete this form with the assistance of a technical person. If you are visiting the office then the staff member can help you in this matter.
Documentation
Prepare all the necessary documents including birth certificates, disability reports, and proof of residency. The caretaker’s evidence to court is also necessary in some cases. Attach all the documents with the application form and then submit it to the office.
Interview
The SASSA will conduct an interview of the caregiver or the applicant in the office or on the call. This interview is to verify the details and confirm the eligibility criteria. After that, they will process your request and make final adjustments.
Stamp Receipt
After the completion of the interview, the office will give you a receipt that has a specific date and ID number. You need to keep this receipt and use it for assistance in the future to get updates on the grants.
Depositing Funds
This one is the most important thing to note. As the funds are deposited in the online bank account or you can get a debit card from SASSA. There are some other ways to collect money such as ATM withdrawals and collecting cash from the post offices.
What is Means Test?
The mean test is an important factor in the approval of the different SASSA grants. The applicant’s income level will determine whether they are going to get these social aids or not.
Purpose
The mean test for the care dependency grant is crucial because it makes sure that the grants are provided to those people who are unable to meet the financial requirements. It is to support deserving families such as children with severe disabilities.
Income thresholds
Single Individual
The income level for a single individual or single parent is almost R249,600. If the yearly income goes above this threshold and you are unable to justify yourself then the grant is not for your family.
Married Couples
The couples have different criteria for income threshold. The combined income of spouses should not exceed R499,200. The combined income threshold is annually and applicants should also provide income proof such as bank statements.
Exemptions
The foster parents are exempted from this type of test. They do not need to bypass this eligibility criteria. They can process the grants without any financial barriers. However, the other terms are applicable to the foster parents that are mentioned earlier.
Processing Time
The processing time or duration of the care dependency grants depends upon a number of factors. However in general the processing time can take up to three months. The application will undergo a formal review and then the department will make a decision.
If the application gets approved then the beneficiaries will start receiving the payments on a monthly basis. You will also get all the payments that are due. For instance, the date of application will determine the actual time frame for the payments.
The department can also cancel the application and will give a solid reason. They can explain the reason in an official letter or can send you a formal email. However, the users will receive a notification on their mobile phone.
How to Appeal for Care Dependency Grant By SASSA
In case your grant is not approved and it is rejected by the authorities then you can make an appeal. It depends upon the reasons for rejection. So you can apply only if you have solid grounds and reasons for getting this grant.
Request To SASSA
The individuals can submit a reconsideration request directly to the SASSA. The department has set a time frame to make this appeal. It is advisable to make a quick decision and don’t get late for more than a month.
Ministry of Social Development
The reconsideration or challenge of the action can also be rejected for a second time. Now you can not submit an application to the SASSA. The Ministry of Social Development can listen to this matter. You can hire a legal advisor to appeal to the government.
Ministry Review
The ministry will review the application in front of a committee. You need to present the solid evidence and reasons for the grant’s continuation. If the ministry finds that the appeal is genuine then they can reverse the decision of SASSA and continue the grants.
Care Dependency Grant Suspension/Lapsing Reasons
The care dependency grants are not for a lifetime. So you need to understand some of the conditions in which it can be lapsed or suspended. There are some more details that you need to consider in this section.
Change in Financial Status
Changes in the financial status of the households or caregivers can result in the suspension. For instance, if the income threshold is more than R249,600 or R499,200 in different situations as mentioned earlier then the grant is stopped.
Institutional Care
The child is now admitted to a state institution for special care on a permanent basis and the institution is providing all the necessary care. Then the financial support will be stopped and you are no longer eligible for that.
Failure to Provide Updated Information
The SASSA requests the information and updates in different cycles. They can verify or review the eligibility criteria. If you are unable to provide the necessary documents that are demanded by the office then they will suspend the grant.
Death of the Beneficiary
Care dependent children are sensitive and can unfortunately die at any stage of their lives. If this happens to the child then the grant will be immediately suspended.
Misuse of Grant Funds
If the SASSA finds out that the funds are misused and not spent on taking care of the child then they can take strict action. These funds are only for special or disabled children. You can not use them for personal needs.
False Information
If someone is committing fraud and providing the wrong evidence during the application process then it leads to immediate suspension. The SASSA can also take legal action against these types of people.
Not collecting payment
Grants can lapse if the beneficiaries are not collecting the payments for more than three months. The SASSA will verify the details and try to contact you. If you do not respond then they will stop the payments.
Child Is out of country
The child should be present in South Africa. If you take it out of the country for a longer period of time then the department has a right to stop the funds.
Child is above 18
The last thing to note is that these grants are for children under 18 years old. If the child is grown up and is now 18 years old then the grant will lapse.
Check Status of SASSA Care Dependency Grants
After the submission of the application, the individuals should check the up-to-date status of the grants. If they do not correspond with the SASSA then the approval of the social benefits can be difficult.
Even after the submission and reviving of the social grants you still need to check the latest SASSA status of the grants. For instance, you can check the payment dates and total balance in the account.
SASSA Website
The online and official website of the SASSA has a portal to verify certain details regarding the grants. You can confirm the status of the application and can also check the payment details.
Mobile App
To confirm the details on the mobile app you can download the application of the SASSA. This application has a direct link to the online portal and can access the information regarding the grants updates.
SASSA WhatsApp
The whats app number of SASSA is also functional and gives real-time updates. You can contact them using 082-046-8553 on whats app. This will help to get in touch with the payments and application process.
Toll-Free Number
The last one is the toll-free number of the SASSA (0800 601 011). This number will provide instant results and it is also free to contact the department for any issue.
Conclusion
The care dependency grant by SASSA is a fundamental support for the special child who is disabled or mentally ill. The applicants can be foster parents, biological parents, or caregivers. In the case of the foster parents, there is an exemption from the mean test.
However, the eligibility criteria are strict in order to get this social benefit. The caregiver should spend this amount on the upbringing and taking care of the child. If the department finds any fraud and false information then they can take legal action and stop the grants.
Finally, the individuals can apply for this grant on the official website of SASSA or can visit the office.
