The social grants payouts are increased for those who are eligible or already receiving social benefits from the SASSA. After the enhancements, the Old Age grant is now R2180 for people who are above 60.
In line with the inflation, the SASSA is providing financial services to the older citizens of South Africa. If you are struggling because of old age and no longer can work then apply for this old age benefit.
The process of application is according to the preferences of the individuals. You can opt for the online website/portal or can choose to visit the office in person. Gather all the required documents and make sure nothing is missing before submission of the form.
The guide is essential for the existing and new beneficiaries of the SASSA. If you are applying as a fresh candidate then take help from this blog to increase the chances of approval.
Eligibility For SASSA Old Age Grant
The qualification criteria for the old age grant is the office provided by the SASSA. If you pass this criteria then the office will have no objections to approve your application. So check out the essential requirements in the following section.
The age of an applicant should be more than 60 years old. After the age of 75, you will start getting additional benefits.
The citizenship criteria are the same for all the grants that are to be a permanent resident of South Africa with residence proof.
The details of the income and assets are updated almost every year for the applicants. There are brief points to note down related to the mean test for this grant.
The single household income should not be more than R86,280 per year. If you are married then the income threshold is different, that is R172,560 per year.
The assets threshold is another requirement that is R1,227,600 or less for a single person and for married couples is R2,455,200.
If you are getting any type of other grants from the same institution such as disability or Foster parent grants then you are not eligible.
The individuals must not be under consideration of a state institution which can be a rehabilitation center or old age home.
The identity of a person will be determined by the South African ID card that has 13 digits on it.
If you meet all these criteria then there are great chances of acceptance of the application.
Apply Online
The process of applying for the old age grant is a sophisticated task. The steps involved in applying for this social benefit are discussed in this section. It is more convenient to apply online and save your valuable time.
Create an Account
The users will go to the online website of SASSA and register themselves. The online portal is only accessible to South African citizens so create an account using your ID card number and other details.
Login
The information you have provided for registration also includes an ID or password. So you can enter the same ID and password to log in to the portal. After successful completion of this stage, you can search for grants.
Choose Old Age Grant
The users will find multiple categories in the portal. Only select a specific category to apply for social benefit and then select the Old Age Grant form to fill out online. You can also download it and fill it manually but filling in the details online is more useful.
Fill Online Form
The online form has different fields that you can fill out. The information required in this form is mostly related to your identity and documents. The users will match the information from the documents and write the correct data.
Upload Documents
The documents required to upload can include proof of residence, ID card, and financial statements. These are the basic documents but a list of complete documents is mentioned on the form. Upload the documents digitally by taking a picture.
Submit
Now cross check all the details for the last time and then hit on the submit button. The portal will send a confirmation message to your email address and phone number that you should verify instantly.
Alternative Methods
The individuals who are finding it difficult to apply for the SASSA grant from the portal can choose the alternative method. They can visit the office in person and then apply for a specific social benefit.
The initial step in this method is to collect all the necessary documents and make their photocopies. The essential documents for the old age grant include identity and residence proof.
You will take your ID card and other essential documents and find the nearby branch of the SASSA. You can make a call and confirm the location. The users can confirm the timings and other details from the office before proceeding.
When you reach the office then go to the help desk and ask for the details of the application. Collect your application form and start filling it with the black ink pen. Enter all the details carefully without making any mistakes.
After the form filling you need to attach the attested documents. All these documents should be relevant and you must have confirmed the details from the help desk.
The office will review the details of the form and other requirements. They will ask you to make changes if there are any. After the completion of this task, you will take a receipt from the office.
This receipt includes the details of the application and your SASSA ID. You can inform the status of the application using this ID on the websites as well.
Before leaving the office the individuals will confirm the process of reviews and details about the grant dates. The staff member will guide you with all resources and tell you when you should visit the office again.
Keep a record of all the documents you have submitted that are necessary for future correspondence.
How To Receive SASSA Old Age Grant Payments
The SASSA now offers different methods to receive the payments after acceptance of the grants. The individuals who are already receiving the benefits can switch payment methods as well. You can choose the following most common methods.
SASSA Card
The Gold Cards introduced by SASSA work like a bank card. This card has funds that are loaded by the institution on a monthly basis. If you wish to withdraw the funds from the card then insert it into the ATM and get the cash.
Bank Account
The bank account method is the most reliable method to choose. The funds are directly deposited into the personal bank accounts of the users. You can go to the concerned branch of the bank and take out cash using the checkbook or card.
Cash Paypoints
This facility is useful for those who don’t have direct access to banking services. There are different pay points in rural areas that can give you grant payments each month. People have to confirm the pay dates before visiting the location.
Post Office
The South African Post Office (SAPO) is another trustworthy institute that can give you payments on demand. The beneficiaries can find the nearby post office and collect the cash.
How To Check the Old Age Grant By SASSA Status
The users are required to check the status of the application after submission. This process is necessary to stay updated and comply with all the necessary requirements of SASSA. There are different ways to check the status that we are discussing here.
The official website of the SASSA is the easiest method to check the status. For instance, the users can log in by entering their ID card number or SASSA ID. Then go to the status check option and find the relevant details about the application.
The SASSA offers service on the helpline number “0800 601011”. You can dial this number in the office timings and it is also free.
Save the SASSA WhatsApp number which is 082-046-8553 in the phone. Send them a “Hello” message and a prompt will appear on the screen. Select the status check option and find the relevant details about the grant.
The next method is to send an SMS to the SASSA on this “082-046-8553” number. You have to write your South African National ID Card number in the message without any space or dash.
How To Check The Old Age Grant By SASSA Balance
The balance check options are available for the benefices who are receiving the grants. You can check the remaining balance by following the most common methods discussed as under.
The people can go to the ATM machine and enter the Bank Card Or SASSA Gold card in which they are receiving the payments. The initial inquiries are free on the gold card and after that, there will be some chargers.
The USSD codes *120*69277# and *120*3210# are functional on cell phones. You can dial this code and select a specific prompt to check the remaining balance.
Another option is to call the SASSA on 0800 601 011 in the daytime. They will confirm your identity and give you the information regarding the remaining balance.
What Happens After Submitting the Application To SASSA?
After submitting the application on the portal the users will track and keep a record of essential details. If the application status is approved then the SASSA will start sending you payments on specific dates.
Reasons For Rejection
If the application is not approved then it can be pending. The SASSA can reject the application anytime and give you a notification on your mobile phone or email.
Reason 1: The applicant does not meet the eligibility criteria.
Reason 2: You are receiving some other grants from the same organization or from the other state institute.
Reason 3: The application form has incorrect details or information.
How to Reapply For the SASSA Old Age Grant
If you believe that the SASSA has not provided a solid reason for declining the application then you can reprocess the application. You only have a single chance to re-apply and satisfy the SASSA that you have completed all the essential requirements.
The provision of income makes sure that older adults can maintain the basic requirements of a life. The applicants must be above 60 years old and permanent citizens of South Africa.
If the SASSA once more declines the application then you have to take help from the Ministry of Social Development. The users must appeal within 90 days of receiving the rejection notice. The Ministry of Social Development can overturn the decision and approve your application.
When going to the ministry for appeal it is better to take assistance from a legal advisor. There is a formal procedure to make an appeal and you need to provide some relevant documents as proof.
Why Old Person Grant Rejected?
The old age grant can be suspended for the beneficiaries. There are some reasons that we have mentioned in this section.
The SASSA can take reviews for ongoing grants at the end of the year or after six months. If you are unable to verify your documents and identity then the grant will be suspended.
The financial circumstance such as your assets and income level is increased and you are no longer eligible for the grant. It includes the household income or income of the couple as a whole.
Reason 1: If the beneficiary is dead then the SASSA will stop the existing grant. However, you can get funeral charges at this stage.
Reason 2: If the medical reports submitted for the child care or disability grant are not up to date then it leads to suspension.
Reason 3: Any type of fraud and misrepresentation of the documents is not tolerable
Reason 4: The administrative errors can lead to temporary suspension. The errors can be in the banking details and other information.
Reason 5: The beneficiary is no longer available in the country and is now living abroad.
Reason 6: If you start taking help from any other state institution then the SASSA will stop the grants.
Reason 7: You are not able to collect the payments for more than three months without any justification.
What are the Inrecemts in the The Old Age Grant
As a result of the financial meetings and news from Minister Godongwana the increments for the old age grants are now pending for the month of October 2024. In the current fiscal year, the old age grant includes an R100 increment. The R90 increment is already granted in April.
The total grant amount is now R2180 for the elderly. The further increase is coming in the month of October which will make the grant amount R2190 for people above 60 years. For people above 75 years, the new amount is R2200.
Tips To Consider Before Applying for an Old Age Grant
If you are making some common mistakes during the application process then the chances of rejection can increase. To mitigate these risks here are some useful tips to consider for all the applicants.
The application form should be filled out completely without leaving any empty space. Take help from the staff office and carefully fill all the sections.
If there is something doubtful in your documents then the SASSA can also take action against you.
Don’t take help from unknown sources and share your personal information. Only visit the official websites and then perform the relevant activities.
The SASSA ID is very important to check the online status and details. Don’t lose it in any case that can result in delays in the payment.
The Gold Card is a reliable option to receive payments but also has some charges after free attempts.
Restoration of Old Age Grant
The SASSA Old Age grants are beneficial for individuals who are facing tough times after the age of 60. If you are retired from a government or private service and do not have enough resources to live a good life then apply for this grant.
The provision of income makes sure that older adults can maintain the basic requirements of a life. The applicants must be above 60 years old and permanent citizens of South Africa.
The SASSA aims to deliver good services to all the citizens of South Africa. It has managed to furnish the online portal on a website that is easy to navigate and apply for the grants.
You can register yourself on this portal and then apply for the old age grant with ease.
