Worked for decades but no SASSA grant? South Africans are speaking out

South Africans are debating who should qualify for the Older Persons SASSA Grant, with many arguing that a lifetime of paying tax should guarantee support in old age.

The discussion unfolded on The South African’s Facebook page, where users weighed in on whether working South Africans are being left out when they reach retirement.

The Older Persons Grant is means-tested, which means SASSA assesses an applicant’s income and assets before approving the grant. Some older persons who worked for decades find themselves earning or owning too much to qualify, despite having paid into the tax system for years.

‘As long as you worked and paid tax’

Yashmin David believes the rules should be simple: if you contributed, you should benefit.

“As long as you worked and paid tax you should be able to collect old age pension,” David wrote.

Her comment received several reactions from users who agreed that former workers deserve recognition for their years of contribution.

David’s view reflects a frustration felt by many middle-income pensioners, who often fall between the cracks. They may not have enough savings to retire comfortably, yet the means test can still rule them out.

Everyone pays VAT

Fierosia Fortune took the argument further, pointing out that tax is not limited to those with formal jobs.

“Everybody, doesn’t matter who you are, when you go to the shopping centre for groceries, clothing or whatever you still pay tax (vat). Even the R10 for electricity they deduct,” Fortune wrote.

Her point highlights that value-added tax applies to almost every purchase, which means even unemployed South Africans and current grant recipients contribute to state revenue every time they shop.

For Fortune, the idea that only formal taxpayers have earned support ignores how much ordinary South Africans already pay.

A debate about fairness

The two comments capture a wider conversation about fairness in the SASSA social grant system.

On one side, South Africans believe those who paid income tax for decades deserve guaranteed support. On the other, many argue that VAT makes every citizen a taxpayer, regardless of employment history.

Older persons who are unsure whether they qualify can apply at their nearest SASSA office, where officials will assess their income and assets against the current means test.

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