The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) pension is also known as an older person’s grant, which is paid to individuals who are 60 years and above. The grant is meant to provide financial assistance to older residents to cope with challenges they may encounter during their old age. Read on to learn the requirements for one to qualify for a SASSA pension.
What Are the Requirements to Qualify for a SASSA Pension?
The SASSA pension is a monthly stipend paid to South African citizens, refugees, and permanent residents who are 60 years and above. These people have no other sources of financial income, so the grant is designed to cushion them against financial hardships.
To qualify for a SASSA pension, you must meet the following requirements:
- Reside in South Africa
- You’re a South African Citizen, refugee, or permanent resident.
- You’re not under care in a state institution.
- You don’t receive any other grant.
- Your annual income should not exceed R86 280 if you are single, and your combined income per year should not be more than R171 560 if married.
- Your assets must not be more than R1 227 600 if you are single and R2 455 200 for married people.
If you are earning a pension from your former employee, you may not qualify for the SASSA funding. If you are living in your home and it is not generating any income, you can apply for the SASSA pension.
At What Age Do You Qualify for SASSA Pension?
When you turn 60 years, you will be recognized as a senior citizen. This is also the retirement age in different sectors of the South African economy. Therefore, people who are 60 years and above are eligible for a SASSA pension. The grant helps senior citizens overcome the financial challenges they may encounter since they would no longer have any source of income.
How Much Is the Monthly SASSA Pension?
The current monthly SASSA pension for people between 60 and 74 years is R1990, and those above 75 years get R2000. However, the Minister of Finance recently announced additional funding for social grants, including the SASSA pension, in his budget presentation of 22 February 2024.
Beneficiaries of various SASSA grants will receive pay increments on 1 April 2024 and an additional increase on 1 October. For instance, the Older Persons Grant for people between 60 and 74 years will be increased by R90 to R2080 on 1 April 2024 from the current R1990. The grant will be increased by another R10 on 1 October 2024 to make it R2090.
Beneficiaries above 75 years currently get a SASSA pension of R2010, and they will get an increment of R90 on 1 April to make it R2100. On 1 October 2024, they will get another increase of R10 to make the new payment of R2110.
How Do I Apply for SASSA Old Age Pension Online?
SASSA’s old pension grant forms are unavailable online, so you cannot use this platform to apply for the grant. To apply for the pension, you need to visit your nearest SASSA office, where you should bring the following items:
- Take your 13-digit bar-coded South African identity document (ID). If you don’t have one, you will need to obtain any of the following:
- Fill in an affidavit with SASSA format standard before a Commissioner of oaths, not a SASSA official.
- Obtain a sworn statement signed by a prominent person like a traditional leader, a councillor, a social worker, a school principal, or a minister of religion who can verify your age, name, and other relevant details.
- A SASSA official takes your fingerprints and refers you to the Department of Home Affairs, where you must apply for an ID while your grant application is processed. Your pension will be suspended if you fail to get an ID.
- Proof of residence
- Proof of marital status, if available
- Proof of income or dividends
- Proof of the value of the assets you have
- Bank statements no older than three months
- Proof of private pension
- Employed people must provide proof of Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) membership or certificate of discharge from their previous employer.
- A copy of the will, the first and final distribution of accounts if your spouse passed away within the last five years
If you cannot travel to your nearest SASSA office due to sickness or old age, you can delegate the task to a friend or family who will apply on your behalf. You must give the person a letter or doctor’s note stating why you cannot go to the office.
If you visit the SASSA office, you will be required to complete the application form in front of the SASSA official. If you cannot write, the office will complete the application form on your behalf. They will also tell you if you qualify for the pension grant after an interview. When you have submitted everything, you will get a receipt as proof.
Can You Collect a Pension and Still Work Full Time?
You can work full-time and still collect a SASSA pension as long as your annual income does not exceed R86 280. If your income is below this threshold, you are considered poor, so you can qualify to get the SASSA pension. If you are married, your combined income should not exceed R172 560 to qualify for the grant.
SASSA pension is meant for people who are 60 years and older to cushion them from financial hardships as they age. However, note everyone qualifies since there are specific requirements that all applicants should meet. You can visit your nearest SASSA branch office for more information before submitting your application.
