Old Age Pension Introduction
If you are a South African citizen or refugee and have reached your retirement age of 60, you can apply for SASSA Old Age Pension. SASSA introduced the Old Age Grant to help aged people of South Africa who are struggling financially. It helps senior citizens who don’t have any other source of income.
You must be eligible for an Old Age grant and pass the SASSA mean test, which evaluates your monthly income, financial stability, and other assets. Visit your nearest SASSA office to apply for an SASSA pension with the required documents. You can appoint a person who can apply on your behalf if you are unable to visit the SASSA office.
Old Age Grant Eligibility Criteria
It is essential to be eligible for an Old Age grant before applying. The eligibility criteria for the elderly grant are discussed below:
Documents Required to Apply for SASSA Pension
You need the following documents to apply for Old Age Pension:
SASSA Old Age Grant Application Process
Visit your nearest SASSA office to apply for an Old Age Pension with the required documents. If you are too old to visit the SASSA office, appoint a person to apply on your behalf. That person should take a note from you or the doctor about why you are not visiting the office.
Ask for the application form from the SASSA officer and fill the form in the presence of the SASSA officer. If you face any difficulty, you can ask for help from the SASSA official. Carefully fill out the information during the SASSA application process and submit it to the official. The officer may interview you and tell you if you qualify for the Old age grant.
After completing the application form and interview, collect the dated stamp receipt from the SASSA official. Keep the receipt safe as proof of your application process.
Old Age Pension Status Check Online
After the successful application process, every applicant needs to check their grant status regularly. You can follow the steps below to check your SASSA Old Age Pension status online:
How Much is the Old Age Pension Amount
The old pension grant depends on the age of the applicant. The current pension grant for older people aged between 60 to 74 is R2090. However, if you are 75 or above then the grant amount is R2110. SASSA increased the older person grant by R90/month in the next financial year starting from 1st April 2024.
SASSA Elderly Grant Processing Time
It takes up to 3 months for SASSA to process applications for old-person grants. However, it may take more time if SASSA receives a high number of applications or if there is any technical issue. Once SASSA decides on your grant they will send you a notification on your registered phone number. If you don’t get a reply from SASSA within three months then contact SASSA and explain your queries.
What to do If Old Person Grant is Rejected
If your old person grant is rejected and you believe that you are eligible for the grant then you can appeal the decision to the Minister of Social Development at the national office of the Department of Social Development. They will review the SASSA decision and decide on it. The appeal request must be submitted within 90 days after application rejection.
SASSA Pension Payments Method
SASSA offers different payment methods to withdraw payments of your social grants in which your grant amount will be directly deposited into your bank account or Postbank account. However, if you selected the cash payment method then you can collect your pension grant from SASSA-partnered retail outlets like Pick n Pay, Boxer, or institutes like Old Age Home, etc.
SASSA Pension Balance Check
You can check your SASSA pension balance by the methods given below:
Old People Grant Suspension Reasons
SASSA can suspend your approved old-person grant due to the following reasons:
Reasons for Expiring of SASSA Pensioners Grant
SASSA pension grant can be lapse due to any of the following reasons:
Responsibilities of Old Age SASSA Grant Beneficiaries
The applicants for Old age pension must provide accurate data to the SASSA during the application process. The beneficiaries should update SASSA about any changes in their address, contact details, or financial circumstances. It builds the trust of SASSA in you and the grant suspension chances become low.
SASSA Contact Information
SASSA for Pensioners FAQs
Old Pension Grant Conclusion
SASSA Old Age Pension is a helpful scheme for senior citizens of South Africa who are struggling financially. You need to be eligible for the Old Age Grant and pass the SASSA mean test in which your monthly income should be less than the SASSA criteria. You can apply for the old age grant even if you are still working and are 60 years or older.
