“Everyone has the right to have access to social security, including, if they are unable to support themselves and their dependents, appropriate social assistance. The state must take reasonable legislative and other measures, within its available resources, to achieve the progressive realization of each of these rights.” - Section 27 of the South African Constitution

Download this flyer to get an overview of the various social grants that are available, who is eligible, the value of the grant as well as the means test threshold.

You qualify for a disability grant if you are permanently or temporarily unable to work. Disability grants are available to persons with physical, mental, intellectual and sensory disabilities who are not able to work. To qualify, they have to be diagnosed by a medical professional. These flyers and videos explain the two types of permanent disability grants and how to apply for them if you are eligible.

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has created a Beneficiary Payment Recourse Mechanism (BPRM) for beneficiaries who want to lodge complaints about problems such as non-payment or unlawful deductions from their grant. 

Download this flyer for information on how to lodge a complaint.

 SASSA can review your child's grant to ensure that only those who qualify receive it. You will be told three months in advance if the grant is going to be reviewed. A child grant may be suspended for a variety of reasons - download a flyer or watch one of the videos to explore more about the reasons for a grant being declined and to get information about the review process.

South Africa has a well-established social welfare system and over 17 million people benefit from social grants each month. Over 12 million of these are Child Support Grants, 3 million are Older Person’s Grants and 1 million are Disability Grants. Social grants are administered by the South African Social Security Agency, known as SASSA.

Section 27 of the Constitution recognises the right of everyone to “social security, including, if they are unable to support themselves and their dependents, appropriate social assistance”. If you have been approved to receive a social grant, there are two options for payment - dowload a flyer or watch a video to find out more about these options.

This Flyer explains the criteria needed in order for a cargiver to qualify for the Child Support Grant. It also provides information on how to apply for the grant, as well as the documents needed to support the application.

All children under 18 in need of parental care may be fostered, no matter what their nationality. The Foster Child Grant is a monthly payment to foster parents. It does not matter how much you earn. To become a foster parent, you should contact your local Department of Social Development or an organisation like child welfare. This flyer provides further information on who is eligible for the Foster Child Grant, and how to apply for it.

You can apply for a Disability Grant if you are in financial need and have a disability that stops you supporting yourself. This flyer provides information on who qualifies for a disability grant and how to apply.

You can apply for a Care Dependency Grant if you are a biological parent, foster parent or a primary caregiver who looks after a child who is disabled and who requires permanent care or support services. Read this flyer to find out more about eligibility and how to apply.

You can apply for a Grant-in-Aid if you have a disability which means you need regular care by another person. To get this grant, you must be receiving a Disability Grant OR an Older Person’s Grant OR a War Veteran’s Grant. You cannot get it by itself. This flyer provides information on who qualifies for Grant-in-Aid as well as the applicaiton process.

You only belong to a pension fund if you have made contributions to one while you were working. Pension funds provide you with an income when you retire, or for your dependents if you die. Remember that all pension funds are different, so make sure you check the rules of your own fund for details. These flyers and videos explain the difference between the two types of pension funds and outline the procedure, should you be having difficulty claiming from your fund.

This booklet on the protection of the personal information of social grant beneficiaries has been prepared by Bowmans Attorneys and Black Sash for information and education purposes. Our hope is that it will give you the information you need to raise awareness about the importance of protecting personal information, that of social grant beneficiaries in particular, and to assist you in protecting and helping those in your community.

South Africa has been downgraded to 'Junk Status' by the three main international ratings agencies. This means that they view the country as being below a level acceptable for investment. This downgrade has a variety of repurcussions for the country, including an increase in the cost of borrowing money for both business and government, which, in turn, could lead to cost increases for consumers. Junk status also means that it is harder for companies and the government to obtain external debt when they need it,  as there is a perception that loans won't be able to be repaid.

Download the flyer to find out more about about the ways that junk status could affect you.