YOU AND YOUR GRANTS 2003

CONTENTS

1. Introduction
2. Types of grants
3. What do you need to apply
4. Where do you apply for a grant
5. Date of approval
6. Unsuccessful application
7. Methods of payment
8. Suspension of grants
9. Restoration of grants
10. Main reasons for lapsing grants
11. Reviews
12. Social Relief of Distress
13. Amount of Grants
14. Address List

INTRODUCTION
Social Assistance means assistance in the form of grants or a financial award provided by the government.

TYPES OF GRANTS
Social Assistance is provided in the form of:

• an old age grant;
• a disability grant;
• a war veterans grant;
• a care dependency grant;
• a foster child grant;
• child support grant;
• grant in aid  and
• social relief of distress.

QUALIFYING REQUIREMENTS

OLD AGE GRANT

The applicant:

• must be a South African Citizen;
• must be resident in South Africa at the time of application;
• if a male, must be 65 years or older;
• if a female, must be 60 years or older;
• and spouse must comply with the means test;
• must not be maintained or cared for in a State Institution;
• must not be in receipt of another social grant;
• must submit13 digit bar coded identity document.

DISABILITY GRANT

The applicant:

• must be a South African Citizen;
• must be resident in South Africa at the time of application;
• must be between 18 to 59 years of age if a female and 18 to 64 years of age if a male;
• must submit a medical / assessment report confirming disability;
• and spouse must meet the requirements of the means test;
• must not be maintained or cared for in a State Institution;
• must not be in receipt of another social grant in respect of yourself.
• must submit13 digit bar coded identity document.

WAR VETERANS GRANT

The applicant:

• must be a South African Citizen;
• must be resident in South Africa at the time of application;
• must be 60 years and over or must be disabled;
• must have fought in the Second World War or the Korean War or served in the war that commenced on 06 September 1939;
• and spouse must meet the requirements of the means test;
• must not be maintained or cared for in a State Institution; and
• must not be in receipt of another social grant
• must be a South African Citizen;

CHILD GRANTS

FOSTER CHILD GRANTS

• the applicant / child  must be resident in South African at the time of application;
• 13 digit bar-coded ID document (applicant)
• court order indicating foster care status;
• must have valid RSA / non RSA 13 digit I D number in respect of each child;
• foster child must pass the means test;

CARE DEPENDENCY GRANTS

• must be South African Citizens except for foster parents;
• the applicant and child must be resident in South Africa;
• age of child must be from 1 to 18 years;
• must submit a medical / assessment report confirming disability;
• applicant, spouse and child must meet the requirements of the means test;
• the care-dependant child/children must not be permanently cared for in a State
  Institution;
• 13 digit bar coded ID document (applicant)
• 13 digit birth certificate (child)
   
  note: the income of foster parent will not be taken into consideration

CHILD SUPPORT GRANT

• the child and primary care giver must be a South African Citizen and resident in South Africa;
• applicant must be the primary care giver of the child/children concerned;
• the child/children must be under the age of 9 years;
• the applicant and spouse must meet the requirements of the means test;
• 13 digit bar coded ID document (of the care giver); and
• 13 digit birth certificate (of the child).
• cannot apply for more than six non biological children

GRANT IN AID

• must require full-time attendance by another person owing to his/her physical or mental disabilities;
• must not be cared for in an institution that receives subsidy by the State for the care housing of such beneficiary;
• must be a social grant recipient
   
  A grant in aid is an additional grant awarded to persons who are in receipt of an (Old age/Disability/War Veteran’s Grant), and who are unable to care for themselves.

WHAT IS A MEANS TEST?
 
The most important factor when a person applies for social assistance is his/her financial position. The reason for this is that grants are only awarded if the applicant’s financial resources are below a certain level. In determining whether an applicant qualifies for a grant, and if so, to what amount he/she would be entitled, the income and assets of the applicant and spouse or the concerned foster child are assessed.
 
WHERE DO YOU APPLY FOR A GRANT

• You apply at the Welfare Office nearest to where you live;
• If you are too old or sick to travel to the office to apply for a grant, then a family member or friend can apply on your behalf;
• Your application form will be completed in the presence of an officer from the department;
• When your application is completed you will be given a receipt;
• Keep this receipt – it is your only proof of application;
• You do not have to pay any money to apply;
• If your application is not approved by the Welfare Office, you must be informed in writing as to why your application was unsuccessful;
• You have the right to appeal to the Minister for Welfare in your Province in writing, explaining why you disagree with the decision. This appeal must be lodged within 90 days of notification of the outcome of your application.

DATE OF AWARD OF GRANTS
           
If your grant is approved, you will be paid from the day you applied.

IF YOUR APPLICATION FOR A GRANT IS UNSUCCESSFUL
 
The applicant must be informed in writing of the reasons for the refusal of the grant, and his/her right to appeal within 90 days of notification.

METHODS OF PAYMENT
 
You can receive your grant by the following methods:

• Cash payments
• Banks
• Post office
• Institution

Note:   If you are unable to collect the grant yourself you may nominate a procurator to regularly collect it for you.

SUSPENSION OF GRANTS
The following may result in the suspension of a grant:

• changes in circumstances;
• outcome of a review;
• failure to co-operate when a grant is reviewed;

RESTORATION OF GRANTS
 
An application must be made for restoration of a grant within 90 days of the suspension.

MAIN REASONS FOR LAPSING OF GRANTS

• death;
• admission to a State Institution;
• if the grant is not claimed for 3 consecutive months;
• when the period of temporary disability has lapsed;
• you are absent from the Republic for a continuous period longer than six months.

REVIEWS
           
You must declare any income at the time of application. This will form the basis on which the Department will decide whether your grant must be reviewed. You will be notified 3 months in advance of the date of the review or the date on which the life certificate is due.

SOCIAL RELIEF OF DISTRESS
 
Social relief of distress is a temporary provision of assistance intended for persons in such dire material need that they are unable to meet their or their families most basic needs.
 
In order to qualify for Social Relief of Distress, the applicant must comply with one or more of the following conditions:

• the applicant is awaiting permanent aid;
• the applicant has been found medically unfit to undertake remunerative work for a period of less than 6 months;
• the breadwinner is deceased and insufficient means are available;
• the applicant has been affected by a disaster, and the specific area has not yet been declared a disaster area; and
• the applicant has appealed against the suspension of his or her grant;
• the person is not a member of a household that is already receiving social assistance;
• the person is not receiving assistance from any other organisation.

PERIOD OF SOCIAL RELIEF OF DISTRESS
Social Relief of Distress is issued monthly or for any other period for a maximum period of 3
months. Extension of the period by a further 3 months may be granted in exceptional cases.
 
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 accept employment where he or she will not be dependent on further State Aid

AMOUNTS OF GRANTS AS AT 01 APRIL 2003

CONTACTS DETAILS