Types of Grants in South Africa: Social Grants Information 2025

Do you know that according to 2023 statistics, around 50% of households and 40% of individuals in South Africa receive social grant benefits? The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) administers the government’s financial assistance programs, providing various social security grants to help citizens meet their basic needs.

These include financial support, residence, Childcare, disability funds, etc. Each grant type has its own eligibility criteria, benefits, and payment schedule based on the category of the beneficiaries.

Table of Contents

1 What is a Social Grant?

2 Types of Grants in South Africa: SASSA Social Security Fund Scheme

A social grant is a form of financial assistance provided by the South African government to assist individuals who are unable to support themselves financially. These grants are distributed monthly to the permanent residents, permit holders, and registered asylum seekers of South Africa.

The purpose of social grants is to reduce poverty and provide secure funds for society’s vulnerable groups. The grant amount and payment date depend on the type of grant a person is receiving from SASSA.

Further, to qualify for a specific grant, applicants must undergo a Means Test, used to assess the financial situation of the applicant.

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) offers different grants for financial and care assistance. Each grant type has its own specific eligibility criteria that applicants must fulfill to qualify.

The various types of social grants in South Africa, along with their eligibility guide, application procedure, and payment schedule, are mentioned below:

Social Relief of Distress Grant

The Social Relief of Distress or SRD R350 Grant was initially introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide temporary assistance to South African nationals. Due to ongoing need, the government later decided to continue access to SRD grants for a longer period.

To qualify for this grant, applicants must meet the following criteria:

The applicant has been approved for a social grant, but payment is still pending.
The main family supporter has passed away, and the application within 12 months after his death.
A disaster occurred in the applicant’s area that severely affected living conditions.
The primary earner of the family is medically unfit to work but is expected to recover and return to his job within 6 months.

Child Support Grant

The Child Support Grant is one of the most common types of grants in South Africa. It provides financial support to parents or primary caregivers to help them improve the living conditions and education of children. To qualify for the SASSA Child Support Grant, the applicant must fulfill the following requirements:

The primary caregiver must be a South African resident or a refugee.
The applicant must be the child’s primary caregiver.
The child's age must be less than 18 years.
The child should not be cared for in a state institution.
The parents or primary caregiver must meet the income criteria by the Means Test.
An applicant can not apply for more than 6 biological children.

Disability Grant

Individuals who are physically or mentally unfit to perform daily tasks or work activities may apply for the SASSA Disability Grant. However, the applicant may apply for a temporary or permanent disability fund based on the nature and duration of the medical condition. A valid disability proof or medical report is also required in the application process.

Below are the eligibility requirements to qualify for the Disability Grant:

The applicant must be a permanent resident of South Africa or a refugee.
The age limit to apply for the DG is between 18 to 59 years.
The applicant must not be receiving any other social grant.
The applicant must submit a disability proof confirming his medical condition.
Both the applicant and the spouse must pass the means test.
The applicant must not be cared for in a state institution.

Care Dependency Grant

The Care Dependency Grant provides financial support to caregivers of children with any physical or mental disability. The cost of providing permanent and professional care for such a child is much more expensive in South Africa. Therefore, the government offers CDG to help primary caregivers or foster parents manage these expenses.

To obtain a Care Dependency Grant, applicants must fulfill the following requirements:

The applicant must be a South African National or recognized refugee.
The child must be under 18 years of age.
The applicant must submit a medical certificate, confirming the child’s disability, either physical or mental.
Both the applicant and the spouse must pass the Means Test.
The care-dependent child must not be getting cared for in a state institution.

Older Person Grant

Individuals aged 60 or above can qualify for the Old Age Grant in South Africa. The Older Persons Fund is typically intended to support elderly individuals who do not receive any other form of social assistance and need money to fulfill their living expenses.

To determine the eligibility, a Means Test is performed to know the applicant’s financial condition regarding income, savings, and assets. The monthly grant amount ranges from R2080 to R2100 depending on the applicant’s age.

The eligibility requirements for the Old Age Grant are:

The applicant must be above 60 years of age.
He must be a South African citizen or refugee.
The applicant must not be receiving any other social grants.
The applicants and their spouses must pass their Means Test.
The applicant must not be residing in any state-funded institution.

Grant-in-Aid

The Grant-in-Aid is an additional support grant provided to individuals who are already receiving other SASSA grants, like old age, disability, or War Veterans Grant but require full-time care due to physical or mental disability.

Specially, this grant is intended for people who need permanent support with daily life activities, such as bathing, dressing, cooking, laundry, or cleaning. To get a Grant-in-Aid fund by SASSA, applicants must be:

Receiving one of the grants for Older Persons, Disability, or War Veteran Grant.
Must not be a resident of or cared for in a state institution.

War Veterans Grant

The War Veterans Grant is one of the special types of grants in South Africa that is specifically arranged for individuals who served in the Second World War or the Korean War. To be eligible for this grant, the applicant must be above 60 years of age and must not be receiving any other SASSA grant. Also, he must be a permanent resident of South Africa.