Apply for Sassa Old Age Pension

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The Sassa old-age pension program is available to about 46% of the South African population who receive the Sassa grant. This grant is available to applicants over the age of 60. Because it’s a monthly income for those over 60 who lack other financial resources, this grant is often referred to as the old age pension.

All the necessary information for applying for an old age pension grant with the South African Sassa is listed below.

About the older person’s grant

No one can escape aging, and most people lack financial or housing plans for retirement or enough support from their children.

Eligibility Criteria

The following criteria must be met in order to qualify for Sassa old age grants:

• In order to qualify for this grant, applicants must be unable to work
• Residents, citizens, and refugees of South Africa are eligible to apply
• Aside from South Africa, the candidate doesn’t live anywhere else
• Another social institute does not provide any benefit for the candidate.
• There is no exception for applicants who are incarcerated, in rehab, or living in a state-run old-age home.
• You should also make sure that your spouse meets the mean test requirements.

The Means test: what does it mean?

You are determined to qualify for SASSA older persons grants based on your mean score. In order to ensure only the right and deserving applicants receive financial assistance and grant money, SASSA works hard and makes every effort to determine that only those who deserve it are eligible. Therefore, Sassa set many limitations and monetary thresholds for the verification process before taking action.

You will only receive an older person’s grant if your private income is high enough. According to SASSA, “grants are paid based on a sliding scale for elderly, war veterans, and disabled individuals.” As a result, if you earn a high income, you will receive a lower grant amount.

Grants are given only to applicants whose income does not exceed the amounts described below. It is not possible for a candidate to be eligible if the above conditions are not met.

For Single person

Individuals are eligible for the older person’s grant if they have assets of less than R1227 600 and earnings of less than R86280.

For married couple

Applicants who are married must not have assets exceeding R2 455 200 or earnings exceeding R172 560. The Sassa took into account the combined incomes of couples.

Documents required to apply for the Sassa pension 

In order to apply for an older grant pension, you will need the following documents:

• Identity document 
• In the absence of an ID, you can use a standard SASSA form. An affidavit is also sworn before someone other than a SASSA official, known as an Oath Commissioner. Sign your sworn statement with the signature of at least one well-known person. Your fingerprints will be taken by the Department of Home Affairs and forwarded to Sassa. By applying for an ID, you can avoid your application being suspended. Sassa can start processing your application as soon as it receives your fingerprints and the above documents. If you do not have an ID, you may not submit your application.
• It is also necessary to have the ID document of the spouse if you are married
• An official document proving marital status. In addition to the divorce order or proof, you will need your spouse’s death certificate, a sworn statement or affidavit, and the marriage certificate.
• Providing proof of residency
• You will need to provide proof of your income (if you are married, you must also provide proof of your spouse’s income)
• Evidence of your assets, including the properties that you own and the properties of your spouse (if you are married).
• Children with dependents (if any) must provide proof of income
• You should be able to provide proof of your private pension (if you have one)
• Recent bank statement
• Proof that you are a member of the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) or a discharge certificate from your former employer 

Note: The first and final liquidation and distribution accounts must be provided after a death within the past five years.

OLDER PERSONS GRANT OUTCOME

Upon assessing your application, you will receive a written notification within three months of the decision. You will be informed of SASSA’s reasons for rejecting you if you are denied.

Applicants who were rejected by SASSA can request reassessment. If your application is still rejected after reconsideration, you may appeal to the Minister of Social Development.

In three months from the date of application, approved applicants will start receiving payments. Backdated payments will be made based on the date of your application.
 

OLDER PERSONS GRANT PAYMENTS

When you apply, your grant will be approved, and you will receive your payment that same day. There is usually a SASSA payment on the 2nd or 3rd of every month (it usually falls on the 2nd or 3rd of every month).

A pension grant can be received in three different ways (depending on your preference):

• A direct deposit will be made into your bank account
• Paypoints at which cash is collected
• An institution-specific approach

The new payment method will be effective the following month if you change your payment method at the Welfare office.

In the event that you cannot collect your grant yourself, you may nominate someone you trust to do so on your behalf.

OLDER PERSONS GRANT REVIEWS

All of your income must be verified if you’re applying for a job.

The grant-holder must fulfill the grant criteria in order to continue receiving the grant. Annual reviews ensure that applications are still eligible. A review of your application will be conducted if your circumstances have changed.

SASSA will notify applicants three months before the application review deadline. Following the review, you will receive a notification with the date and location. An assessment of bedridden applicants will be conducted at their homes. After the review has been completed, a receipt will be issued.

A review of refugee applications will occur once the status of the refugee has expired.

OLDER PERSONS GRANT SUSPENSION

Suspension of your grant may be caused by the following reasons:

• Your circumstances have changed
• False or inaccurate information was provided in your application
• You failed to cooperate with the grant review
• The results of the review
• The grant was approved incorrectly

OLDER PERSONS GRANT RESTORATION

A grant that has been suspended due to any of the reasons above may be reinstated within 90 days of receiving the suspension.

OLDER PERSONS GRANT LAPSE

Your grant may lapse for the following reasons:

• Sadly, the grant holder passed away
• The grant holder was admitted to a state-funded institution
• It has been three months since the grant has been claimed
• The grant holder no longer resides in South Africa
• As a result of their improved assets or income, grant holders no longer qualify for the grant

OLDER PERSONS GRANT NOTES

In order to receive a grant, grant holders must:

• Be sure to keep SASSA informed of any changes in your personal or financial circumstances
• Contact SASSA if your address or contact information changes

Whenever any changes are made to the above information, an official notice will be mailed to the applicant’s most recent address by registered mail. Not receiving or acting on notices may result in the suspension of your grant.

It is SASSA’s policy not to tolerate fraudulent activities.

How to apply for a Sassa pension?

Your Sassa grant application status can also be checked at the nearest Sassa office along with applying for a grant.

• Applicants for pensions can submit their applications through Sassa. Family members or friends may apply on your behalf when you are sick or cannot visit. It will be necessary for you to provide a note explaining why you are not able to attend from yourself or from your doctor. 
• Applicants are also interviewed by a Sassa officer to determine their eligibility. 
• You can contact the Sassa officer if you have any difficulties filling out the Sassa form. It is only possible for you or a Sassa officer to fill out the grant application form
• Upon completion of the application form filling process, you will receive a receipt with a date stamp.
• The receipt serves as a proof of your application, so keep it safe.
• It is not necessary for you to have any money in order to apply for the pension grant.
• If your application is accepted, you will receive an email notification, while in the event that it is rejected, you will receive a letter indicating why it was rejected.
• You can also ask for the decision to be reconsidered. Reconsideration will not change the outcome of your application. It is then possible to appeal the decision to the Minister of Social Development. If you receive a letter notifying you of your termination, you have 90 days to appeal. The letter explains how to appeal.

Payment Method:

Payment can be made using the following methods.

• You can pay in Cash at a specific location.
• You might be able to pay with a bank account or Postbank account (you may be charged by the bank for this).
• Homes for the elderly (e.g. old age homes).

It is possible to appoint someone to collect your payment on your behalf if you are unable to do so yourself. Additionally, money transfers may also be subject to bank charges. If you wish to change the payment method, you must fill out a form at the welfare office. The new payment method will be applied one month after the change is made.

Reason for Suspension: 

Suspension of your old age grant can be caused by the following reasons:

• The main reason for suspension is a financial condition.
• In the event that you do not cooperate with Sassa, your application will not be reviewed.
• The misrepresentation or fraudulent acquisition of real documents or information
• It is possible for documents to contain errors during the grant approval process
• It is also possible for your grant to be suspended if you haven’t collected your grant income for 3 months or more
• If a member of the republic dies or is absent for a prolonged period of time.

Whenever their financial circumstances or other circumstances change, it is the beneficiaries’ responsibility to notify Sassa. Fraud and illegal activities will not be tolerated by Sassa.

Note: If the grant application is submitted within 90 days of suspension, grants can also be reinstated

Reason for grant lapsing:

The grant will lapse if the person dies or leaves the country. Your grant may also be affected if you are arrested, hospitalized, in rehabilitation, or in an old age home. A reduction of 25% in the grant will be made by the government in order to take care of the people. As long as you remain enrolled in that institute, you will continue to receive a reduction in your grant. Your grant expires after 4 months of being enrolled in the institution. 

Sassa pension increase 2022

A Sassa grant increase above inflation was indicated by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana in his budget speech for 2022. A decision such as this is made in his inaugural budget speech for 2022. In South Africa, over 48% of the population receives financial assistance from the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa).

A review of beneficiaries has resulted in the National Treasury indicating an increase of about 1% in the 2022 Budget. This means the number of people eligible for grants will increase from 18.4 million in 2021/2022 to 19.2 million in 2024/25. A grant of R350 for Social Relief of Distress (SRD) is not included in this calculation.

Grants for beneficiaries (under 75)

There will be a 5.3% increase in the old-age grant for beneficiaries (under 75) from R1 890 (in April) to R1 985 (in October).

Beneficiaries over 75 can apply for a grant

The pension will increase by 5.2% to R2 005 in April and to R2,010 in October for those over 75.

FAQs:

Conclusion

South Africans who can’t work or support themselves receive financial assistance from Sassa Old Age Pensions. Many individuals in vulnerable communities depend heavily on this social grant for their livelihoods.

It promotes social inclusion and allows elderly people to remain independent in addition to alleviating poverty. In spite of some challenges and criticisms, it continues to play an important role in South Africa’s social welfare system.