SASSA Care Dependency Grant- Complete Application Procedure

SASSA care dependency grant offers financial assistance to those caring for a disabled child. The grant aims to fulfill the needs of a disabled child under 18. If you are a biological Parent, Foster Parent, Caretaker, or Guardian of a child then you can receive the payment. This article will discuss the requirements, procedure, processing time, etc.

What are the Criteria to Qualify for a Care Dependency Grant?

To qualify for the SASSA care dependency grant, a person must fulfill the eligibility criteria set by the SASSA. These requirements are:

You must be a parent, a caretaker, a foster parent, or a guardian of a disabled child appointed by the Child Court.
You should be a South African national, a permanent resident, or a refugee.
Your disabled child is not admitted to a state institution for care.
You and the child are living in South Africa.
You must have a medical or assessment report detailing that the child needs full-time care due to his disability since birth.
The age of a disabled child should be less than 18 years.
You must fulfill the means test conditions to qualify for the SASSA care dependency grant.
If you are single, your monthly income is not more than R20,800, or your annual income is less than R249,600.
If you have a spouse, the combined monthly income should be less than R41,600, or the yearly combined income should be less than R499,200.

Please note that if you are a child’s foster parents, the mean test does not apply to you.

Documents You Need to Apply for SASSA Care Dependency Grant

You should have the following documents when applying for the grant: The documents are:

You should have a bar-coded 13-digit unique ID card. In case you do not have a birth certificate and Identity Card:
Fill out an affidavit before an oath commissioner, and please ensure the commissioner is not related to the SASSA.
Bring a sworn statement verifying your age and name, signed by a respectable person for example a principal, counselor, leader, etc.
SASSA will collect your Fingerprints and send you to the “Department of Social Development” where you can apply for your Identity Card.
They will issue you a short-term ID. Remember, the care dependency grant will be suspended if you fail to get an ID card.
Baptismal certificate of a disabled child ( only if you have one)
Certificate or Report of the school.
Or, Road to the health clinic card (if you can provide)

If you are a refugee then you must have a refugee ID or a refugee status permit.
Medical report detailing the disability of your child.
Provide the evidence to show your marital status:
You must have a marriage certificate if you have a spouse.
A divorce decree in case of separation.
Death certificate if your life partner died.
Or, an affidavit if you are single.

You must have the following documents if you are married, and please note these requirements are not for foster parents:
You and your spouse’s payslips if you are working right now.
If you are receiving a pension, then provide the pension slip that applies to your spouse too.
Or, If you are a former worker, show your UIF membership and recent job leaving certificate.
If you are receiving any social grant on behalf of a disabled child, you must provide evidence.

In case you are not the biological parents of a disabled child, then show any of these documentation:
Bring the report written by any social worker.
Provide the affidavit issued by the police station.
The letter detailing that your child is attending the school could be issued by the principal of your child’s school.
If you are a foster parent of a disabled child, then show the legal court order of your appointment as a foster parent.

Application Procedure for the SASSA Care Dependency Grant

Before applying for the grant, ensure you have a medical report showing the child’s disability by the SASSA-appointed doctor. Then, go to the SASSA office near your home and fill out the form before the official. Hock up the required documentation that we have discussed above with the form.

After submitting the document, the officer will conduct a short interview and tell you whether you are eligible for the SASSA care dependency grant. At last, the SASSA officer will provide you with a receipt with his name written on it. Make sure you keep it safe as evidence that you have applied.

Processing Time for the Care Dependency Grant

SASSA usually takes up to 3 months to complete. However, this time, you can change the number of applications for this grant from the day you applied. If you are selected for the grant, you will receive the payment from the day you apply.

What If Your Application is Declined?

If your application for the grant is not accepted, you will receive a written letter from the SASSA detailing the reason for your rejection. If you think there might be some error, you can appeal to the “Ministry of Social Development” at the “Department of Social Development”. Then, they will review your application again.

What Amount Will You Receive Monthly?

You will receive a total of R2180 monthly for the disabled child.

Payment Methods to Receive the Grant Money

You can receive the payment of the care dependency grant through the following methods:

You can receive the payment directly in the bank account.
Another method for receiving the payment is postbank.
You can also receive payment from SASSA partners like Usave, Pick n Pay, and Boxer.
From government institutes like welfare centers to old-age homes.

Review of the Care Dependency Grant

SASSA has a right to conduct a review based on the financial circumstances you wrote in the application form. They will conduct a review to verify whether your circumstances changed or not. Another reason for conducting a review is to ensure that you are alive.

Try to update your application in a timely manner to avoid any distress. SASSA will inform the date and the place where the review will be conducted almost 3 months before in a written letter. If you are confined to bed, the SASSA team will come to your house for the review.

Reasons for the Suspension of the Grant

The main reasons for the suspension of the Care dependency grant are the following:

If your financial conditions get better, then the grant will be lapsed. If you are a foster parent, this condition is not for you.
When the treatment cures the disability of your child, then the grant will be suspended.
SASSA approved the application of your disabled child by error.
If you provided fake information in the grant application,
When you did not cooperate with the SASSA team during the review.
It could be a consequence of a review.

Restoration of the Grant

If there is an error in the suspension of your grant, then you can appeal to the “Minister of Social Development” at the “Department of Social Development “within 90 days.

Reasons for the Lapsing of Your Grant

Your grant could be lapsed because of these reasons:

It could be a miserable event of the death of your disabled child.
If you are admitted to any state institute for care or treatment, it will be canceled after six months.
You and your child are out of the country for more than 90 days.
If your child turns 18 years old.
And you did not receive the grant payment for 3 months straight.

Is There Any Difference Between the Care Dependency Grant and the Disability Grant?

Yes, a disability grant is slightly different from a care dependency grant because the dependency grant is particularly for a child between the ages of 0 and 18, while the disability grant is for a disabled person of any age.

Conclusion

SASSA takes a great initiative to support disabled children between 0 years to 18 years. If your child has been facing a disability since birth and you are eligible for the grant, then apply for the grant and get assistance from the SASSA.