SASSA Disability Grant is a social assistance provision extended by South African Social Security Agency to support a person living with a disability without sufficient income or resources. Its purpose is to allow the grant holder to take care of basic needs like feeding, healthcare, clothing, and mobility aids. The SASSA grant is not dependent upon past contributions like other employment-based disability benefits but depends on its eligibility criteria.
Eligibility Criteria & Who Qualifies
To qualify for Disability Grant in 2025, an applicant would have to meet certain requirements:
- Be a South African citizen, permanent resident, or recognized refugee residing in South Africa;
- Demonstrate a permanent or long-term disability which can be confirmed through medical or functional assessment;
- Provide clinical documentation, or a referral from a medical practitioner, therapist, or facility, confirming the existence of the disabling condition;
- Undergo means testing to establish financial need, i.e., the applicant must prove to have limited income and assets;
- Not be receiving another social grant in his or her name, save in combination with a few others, such as Grant-in-Aid;
- Check whether his or her personal details, bank details, and so on, are up to date with the SASSA to avoid complications of a delay or refusal in granting payment.
In February 2025, SASSA informed that Grant-in-Aid can be accessed by people in receipt of a disability grant whose disabilities would require care and attendance on a regular and ongoing basis. Nevertheless, the Grant-in-Aid is not a separate stand-alone grant: it is in most cases supplementary to the main disability grant.
Application & Assessment Process
To claim the grant, application forms must be completed at a regional SASSA office, and all related medical records must be submitted with the application.For this:
- Complete and submit the disability grant application form;
- Submit your identity documentation, proof of residence, declaration concerning income, and assets;
- Submit one set of medical evidence, including test results, doctors’ reports, and treatment history;
- Undergo an assessment; SASSA or the appointed medical board shall determine how disabled the applicant is;
- Await a decision either approving the grant or declining on the basis of insufficient proof or non-compliance.
An applicant should ask the department to review the unsuccessful application, or provide more documentation to support their application at any time.
Payment Schedule & Amounts
SASSA announces grant payment dates in advance; therefore, for October 2025, the Disability Grant would be paid on 3 October. The payment of grants is done in the same way as other social grants are paid, either by bank deposit, or by means of the SASSA cards and Pay points. The amounts of the grants differ subject to government budget decisions, but one could expect some consistency with increases applied to other social grants during the same period.
Important points the beneficiary should note
- Always keep your medical and treatment records updated, especially in the case where your health deteriorates and there are changes in the treatment;
- If any changes or updates are made regarding your bank details, ensure that you notify SASSA of such changes;
- Should the grant be declined, one must respond within the appeal period and submit additional evidence in support of the appeal; and
- Regularly check SASSA announcements for any updates or changes in policy.
It is crucial to these people with disabilities who do not support their own living by grant so that they can live at least a basic standard of life.
Also Read: SASSA Social Grants October 2025: Updated Payment Dates, Amounts And Eligibility