• Must be a South African citizen
• Must be resident in the Republic at the time of application
• If a male, must be 65 years of age
• If a female, must be 60 years of age
• As well as the spouse, must comply with the means test
• Must not be maintained or cared for in a state institution, and
• Must not be in receipt of another social grant, in respect of him or herself.

• Must be a South African citizen
• Must be resident in the Republic at the time of application
• Must be a disabled person, who has attained the age of 18 years and as a result of his or her disability is unable to obtain employment or does not have any other resources to support himself or herself.
• The period of disability for all work must either be permanent or for a continuous period of 6 months or 1 year.
• Must not refuse to undergo the necessary medical treatment, unless the treatment may be life threatening
• As well as the spouse, must comply with the means test
• Must not be maintained or cared for in a state institution, and
• Must not be in receipt of another social grant, in respect of him or herself.

• Must be a South African citizen
• Must be resident in the Republic at the time of application
• Must be a war veteran, that is a person who has attained the age of 60 years, or who is disabled and has served full-time in wars, between 1914 and 1945
• As well as the spouse, must comply with the means test
• Must not be maintained or cared for in a state institution, and
• Must not be in receipt of another social grant in respect if him or herself.

What is a Foster Child Grant?

A foster child grant is payable to a foster parent or parents in respect of a foster child who has been placed in their custody in terms of the Child Care Act.

• The child or children must be legally placed in the care of the foster parent/s
• The income of the foster child must not exceed twice the annual amount of a foster child grant, and
• The applicant and foster child/ren must be resident in the Republic at the time of application.

Note: Foster parents and children need not be South African citizens.

5. CARE-DEPENDENCY GRANTS

What is a care-dependency grant?

A care-dependency grant is payable to the parent/s or foster parents in respect of a care-dependent child between the ages of 1 and 18 years in their care, who, due to severe mental and /or physical disability, needs full-time care.

• The parent/s and care-dependent child must be South African citizens
• The applicant and care-dependent child must be resident in the Republic at the time of application
• The care-dependent child/ren must be between the ages of 1 and 18 years
• A medical report and functional assessment for the child must be submitted
• Medical treatment must not be refused provided it is not life threatening
• At the age of 6 the child/ren must be evaluated as to his or her educability and trainability
• The care dependent child/ren must be legally in the care of the parent or foster parent, and
• The care-dependent child/ren must not be permanently care for in a state institution.

6. CHILD SUPPORT GRANTS

What is a child support grant?

A child support grant is a grant of R100 per month payable to a primary care-giver in respect of a child or children under the age of seven. A primary care-giver is any person who takes primary responsibility for the daily care needs of the child or children and is not necessarily related to the child/ren.

• The child/ren and the primary care-giver must be South African citizens
• The child/ren and the primary care-giver must be resident in the Republic at the time of application
• The applicant must be the primary care-giver of the child/ren concerned
• The child or children must be under the age of 7 years
• The grant is payable in respect of a maximum of 6 children
• The primary care giver must comply with the financial criteria in the means test
• The primary care-giver must not receive remuneration to take care of the child/ren concerned
• An institution must not receive an award for taking care of the child
• The primary care-giver or any other person must not already be in receipt of a grant on behalf of the child

7. DOCUMENTS REQUIRED WHEN APPLYING FOR GRANTS

The following documents or certified copies must accompany all applications made for grants:

• South African Identity Document (13 digits) of the applicant and spouse (if applicable) and relevant child/ren
• Proof of marital status: marriage certificate, divorce order and agreement and death certificate of late spouse (if widow/er)

7.2 Social Grants:

In addition to the documents mentioned under 7.1, the following documents must be submitted:

• Proof of income and assets of the applicant as well as his/her spouse:
• Bank statement/s for a period of 3 consecutive months
• Interest/dividends earned on investments and bank accounts
• Explanation of any deposit and credits in bank accounts
• If unemployed, a UIF card (blue card) or discharge certificate from the previous employer
• Medical history and report for a disability grant
• Proof of war service in the case of war veterans
• If a lumpsum was received, documentary proof of how it was invested or spent.

7.3 Child Support Grant

In addition to the documents mentioned under 7.1, the following documents must be submitted when applying for a child support grant:

• Each child’s ID or a 13-digit birth certificate with the child’s ID number (if the child does not have an ID or a birth certificate with 13 numbers, the applicant must apply for one at the Department of Home Affairs)
• If the applicant is working, he or she must show proof of recent personal income or make a sworn statement
• If the applicant is not working, he or she must tell this to the welfare officer
• If the applicant is married, he or she must show proof of their spouse’s income if the spouse is working or make a sworn statement
• If the applicant is not the parent of the child, he or she must show proof that they have permission to look after the child
• If the applicant is looking after the child because the parents are dead or missing, the applicant can apply for the grant.

7.4 Foster Child Grants

In addition to the documents mentioned under 7.1, the following documents must accompany an application for a foster child grant:

• Identity document or birth certificate with 13 digits for each child
• Proof of income for the foster child concerned
• Proof of regular school attendance, if the child/ren is of school going age
• An order of the Children’s Court.

7.5 Care-dependency Grants

In addition to the documents mentioned under 7.1, the following documents must accompany an application for a care dependency grant:

• Identity document or birth certificate with 13 digits for each child
• Proof of income of the family
• A medical report from a medical officer

Note: An application form will not be completed, unless all the required documents are submitted

8. CANCELLATION OF GRANTS

All grants will be cancelled, should one or more of the following circumstances occur:

• On the last day of the month in which the beneficiary dies
• when a beneficiary is admitted to a state institution, and
• when the period of temporary disability has lapsed in the case of a grant for the disabled.

• On the last day of the month in which the primary care-giver dies
• On the last day of the month in which the child in respect of whom the grant is paid, dies
• On the last day of the month in which the child in respect of whom the grant is paid, attains the age of 7 years, and
• On the last day of the month in which the child is no longer in the custody of the primary care-giver.

• On the last day of the month in which the last-living foster parents dies
• On the last day of the month in which the foster child dies
• On the last day of the month in which the foster child is no longer in the custody of the foster parent
• At the end of the calendar year in which the foster child attains the age of 18 years, and
• With effect from the first day of the month following the month in which the foster child leaves school.

Note:

Continuation of the payment of a foster child grant may be authorised, on recommendation of a social worker:

• in the case of a child under the age of 18 years, for a maximum period of 1 year, pending placement; or
• in the case of a foster child between the ages of 18 to 21 years, to enable the child to complete hi or her secondary school training, or in the case of a disabled child, his or her special educational training.

• On the last day of the month in which the parent or the foster parent dies
• On the last day of the month in which the care-dependent child dies,
• On the last day of the month in which the care-dependent child attains the age of 18 years, whereupon he or she will be able to apply for a grant for disabled persons, and
• Where a care-dependent child is admitted (permanently) to a psychiatric or care- and rehabilitation centre.

8.5 Any grant shall lapse:

If the beneficiary has not claimed the grant for a consecutive period of three months.

Note:

Application for re-instatement of the grant must be made within 90 days after the grant has lapsed.

9. Approval and notification procedure

• After all the relevant information and documents have been supplied in support of an application for a grant, a decision is made whether to approve or reject the application.
• A letter of approval or rejection is furnished as soon as possible to inform the applicant of the outcome.
• The applicant must be informed of the reasons of rejection and his or her right to appeal within 90 days.

Note:

For disability and care-dependency grants the same procedure is followed, but a medical report and medical history of the applicant, for assessment and classification by a Medical Pension Officer is required before an application form may be completed.

• From 1 April 1998 payment of a grant is made from the date of approval and NOT the date on which the application is made.
• Payment of the grant must commence within 3 months of the date of approval.
• The policy adopted is that NO applicants should wait longer than 3 months for finalisation (approval or rejection) of their applications, from the date on which the application form is completed together with all the necessary documents.

Note:

A foster child grant is payable from the date on which the child was placed in the custody of the foster parent/s, therefore the date of the court order, on condition that the application for this grant is made within 6 months of the date of the court order.

10. SOCIAL RELIEF OF DISTRESS

• Social Relief of distress is a means of alleviating the need of persons by means of the temporary rendering of material assistance to them.
• It is therefore intended for persons in such dire material need, that they are unable to meet their needs or their family’s most elementary needs.
• It is designed to help persons and families over a crisis period.

10.2 Who qualifies for social relief of distress?

In order to qualify for Social Relief of Distress, the applicant must comply with one or more of the following conditions:

• The applicant must be awaiting permanent aid
• The applicant must have been found to be medically unfit to undertake remunerative work for a period of less than 6 months
• No maintenance is received from the person obliged to pay maintenance, and proof must be submitted that efforts made to trace such a person to obtain maintenance were unsuccessful
• The breadwinner is deceased and insufficient means are available
• The applicant has been affected by a disaster, and the area of the community in which he or she lives, has not yet been declared a disaster area, and
• The applicant is not receiving assistance from any other organisation

Note: No person is entitled to a grant and Social Relief of Distress simultaneously. Overpayments which have occurred in this regard will be recovered from a grant payment, including an arrear grant payment.

10.3 Period and value of Social Relief of Distress

Social Relief of Distress is issued monthly for a period of 3 consecutive months. Extension of the period by a further 3 months may be granted, in exceptional cases.

The value of Social Relief issued for each adult may not exceed the maximum social grant payable per month, and for each child may not exceed the maximum child support grant payable per month.

Note:

• In some provinces assistance is only rendered in the form of food vouchers.

Transport expenditure may be paid in exceptional cases where:

• The applicant is referred for treatment by a medical officer and no other transport arrangements can be made, and
• The applicant must travel to a specific destination to assume employment where he or she will not be dependent on further state aid.

11. FUNERAL EXPENSES

Grant money owing to deceased beneficiaries or children, may be paid to persons who paid for the funeral expenses, if a claim is made within 6 months after the death of the beneficiary or child concerned.

But: The amount payable shall not exceed the amount owing to the deceased beneficiary or child concerned.

12. PAYMENT OF A GRANT

There are different ways in which grants can be paid:

• In some provinces, grants are paid out by people employed by the state / Welfare department
• In other provinces, grants are paid out by people working for private companies. These companies have been awarded a contract by the welfare department of the province
• Grants can also be paid at the Post Office
• If applicants have their own bank accounts, the money can be deposited into the account
• Grant money in respect of beneficiaries maintained or cared for in institutions may be credited to the institution’s bank account

• If a beneficiary is unable to collect his or her grant money, due to illness or other reasons beyond his or her control, the beneficiary may appoint and authorise another person (procurator) to draw the grant on his or her behalf. It remains the prerogative of the beneficiary to spend the money in any way he or she wishes.
• An administrator can be appointed by the Department to administer a grant on behalf of a beneficiary as a result of misspending, mental disability or alcohol abuse on the part of the beneficiary.

13. REVIEWS

All grants are reviewed at different times and intervals by each province. A review may result in the grant being increased, decreased or cancelled, depending on the information and changed circumstances. Failure to act upon a review will result in the suspension or cancellation of the grant.