SASSA warning: Disability grants are NOT for life

Those South Africans who receive a monthly SASSA Disability Grant are reminded that the grant is not a payment for life, even when it is classified as a permanent disability grant.

One of the most important reasons is that the Disability Grant is available to people aged 18 to 59.

Once a beneficiary reaches 60, they no longer qualify for a Disability Grant and may instead qualify for the SASSA Older Persons Grant – provided they meet the relevant requirements.

The distinction is important because the word “permanent” can easily be misunderstood.

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Permanent does not mean forever

A person may qualify for a Disability Grant when a physical or mental disability makes them unfit to work for six months or longer.

A temporary disability grant may be awarded when the disability is expected to last continuously for between six and 12 months.

A permanent disability grant applies when the disability is expected to last for more than 12 months.

However, “permanent” does not mean that SASSA guarantees payments until the beneficiary dies.

The grant remains subject to the applicable eligibility requirements and SASSA review processes.

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What happens when you turn 60?

The Disability Grant has an age limit.

Applicants must be 18 to 59 years old to qualify for the grant.

When a beneficiary reaches 60, the Disability Grant ends and the person may need to apply for an Older Persons Grant instead.

The Older Persons Grant has its own eligibility requirements, including income and asset limits.

Beneficiaries should therefore not assume that their Disability Grant will automatically continue after their 60th birthday.

Other reasons a Disability Grant can end

SASSA says a disability grant can be suspended if a beneficiary’s circumstances change or following the outcome of a review.

It can also be suspended if a beneficiary:

• Fails to cooperate with a review;
• Is found to have committed fraud;
• Misrepresented information; or
• Was incorrectly approved for the grant.

The grant can also lapse in certain circumstances.

These include the beneficiary’s death, admission to a state institution, failing to claim the grant for three consecutive months, or leaving South Africa.

What happens in a state institution?

There is another important rule for beneficiaries admitted to an institution funded or contracted by the state.

The grant can be reduced to 25% of the maximum grant amount from the fourth month of admission.

The full grant can be restored when the beneficiary is discharged from the institution.

The key SASSA warning

A “permanent” Disability Grant should therefore not be interpreted as a grant for life.

It means the disability is expected to last for more than 12 months. The beneficiary must still meet the relevant requirements, remain within the qualifying age range and comply with SASSA’s review processes.

And importantly, the Disability Grant does not continue beyond age 60.

Beneficiaries approaching 60 should make sure they understand the requirements for the Older Persons Grant and plan accordingly rather than assuming their existing Disability Grant will continue automatically.