SASSA Online Application: Complete Guide to Applying for a Grant

Use this application guide to apply for any SASSA grant online in a few easy steps, with some mandatory requirements and eligibility criteria.

To apply online for a SASSA grant, we have made it easy for applicants who are new to this and don’t know how and where to start.

The online application by SASSA has paved the way for SASSA applicants to get their grant without facing any problems like standing in queues at SASSA offices.

In this application guide, I’ll show you how you can proceed with an online application, what requirements you need, common pitfalls in this journey, and everything that you should be aware of.

What Is the SASSA Social Grant Application?

Back in time after the launch of SASSA, people used traditional methods for grant applications, which are not practical in this era, because everyone wants online services to be at the ease of home.

SASSA didn’t stop; it launched the online application system for applicants to save their time, and now there are several online ways you can use to apply, not just through the official portal.

Today, the most common doorways applicants use for online SASSA applications are through the SASSA official website and using the GovChat app for applying. 

This amazing facility takes advantage of modern technology, not only saving applicants’ time, but it has also increased the application processing efficiency of the SASSA staff; the matter months are now able to be processed in days.

Don’t cofuse SASSA application with android or IOS mobile app, here the application means procedure to apply for a SASSA grant.

Who Is Eligible to Apply for SASSA Grants Online?

To meet the eligibility criteria, SASSA requires things like age, name, residency, citizenship, a special permit holder document, or an asylum seeker file. All the different grants offered by SASSA have slightly different criteria for applicants. However, the general criteria for an applicant are as follows:

• The person or the applicant must be a South African resident (ID document), a residency holder, a special permit resident, or an asylum seeker (all these must be proved through valid documents). 
• Applicant must not be getting any financial benefits from the government, private, or personal organizations in South Africa.
• Must not be approved in other grant schemes available in South Africa.
• Applicant must successfully comply with the Specialized Means Test by SASSA, which is related to bank account threshold funds holding.
• Valid ID, file number, residency proof in South Africa, and income proof must be provided.
  

In order to achive success in your grant application these base eligibility criteri points must be fulfilled completely, these are applicable on all grants.

Types of SASSA Grants You Can Apply for Online

There are several SASSA grants successfully being offered; some of their eligibility criteria points are as follows:

SRD R370

• Temporary aid to unemployed nationals until they get a job or business.
• Must not have a good income means or heavy assets in their name.

Old Age

• Only for South African nationals above the age of 60.
• Means test complements are important to pass for this.

Disability

• A permanently/temporarily disabled person can apply.
• Documented medical proof is required with the means test.

Child Support

• Guardian/parent of the children who are under 18 can apply.
• The applicant child must be living under the care of the person applying.

Foster Child

• A valid court order must be given to SASSA as proof of child foster care.
• The grant is valid until the court order is valid, and it’s also valid until the child grows.

Care Dependency

• A guardian or parent taking care of a person who can’t take care of themselves.
• A medical assessment certificate must be provided along with the application.

War Veterans

• Fulfilling the means test, the person must be a veteran of the Korean War or World War II. 
• Proof of deservingness must be shown.

These are the only official grants by SASSA, The SRD r370 is still pronounced as R350, so don;t get confused. Any other grant name you hear, must confirm from official resources.

How to Complete SASSA Application Online

• Choose the grant to which you think you meet the eligibility criteria (you can choose only one).
• Prepare the required documents in a PD form to upload them through the portal.
• Visit only the SASSA official website through this link https://services.sassa.gov.za/ application form.
• Register yourself using your ID as a password and your Phone number.
• An OTP as a confirmation of account creation will be sent to the phone number you provided in the account. Use it and confirm your account.
• Now, see for a section “Apply for a Social Grant” within your portal account, click on it.
• Click on the most suitable grant for your eligibility, and you will see a specific form appear on the screen for you to fill.
• Fill out the form completely and accurately without making any mistakes.
• Upload all the required documents to your account, which are specific to each grant.
• Fill the payment form in which you have to select the payment method, either bank account, Postbank, or cash send.

Important: If you’re selecting a bank account, in such a case you have to fill the bank consent form for payments to arrive in your bank account after approval.

Required Documents for the SASSA Online Application

The required documents are super important to provide in your application. Here is what form these documents must have to face no problem while applying:

• The national ID document (card or paper, in case of a child)
• Residency proof should be shown using the utility bill of the home one resides in.
• A documented proof from the bank for the previous 6 months’ bank statement as income proof.
• SASSA certified affidavit only if required.

Important: please note that proof must be valid and updated, in case of legal documents like ID card, it must be matching with the data in the DHA system. 

How to Register for a SASSA Online Account

The most important and basic step every beneficiary has to go through is first registering an account on the official SASSA portal by creating an account, it’s a very simple and easy process; let me show you:

• Visit the SASSA services portal.
• At the top right corner, click on the Register button.
• Provide all necessary details, which include your name, surname, ID, citizenship, and phone number.
• Click on create account and receive an OTP on the same number you entered.
• Now enter the OTP in the OTP field on the portal, and you’re done.

Important: While creating an account, use your own phone number registered on your name and your ID document must not be expired. Both these should also match those you provided in your application form.

How to Check Your SASSA Application Status Online

Everything is done on the side of the application that you have successfully submitted to SASSA online. Now you want to check whether it is approved or rejected, there are many different ways these days you can use to check application status.

• Visit the Status Check Page of the official portal.
• Enter the phone number you provided in your application.
• Enter the ID number you entered in your form.
• Press enter or click the submit button, and your current application status will be shown on the screen.

Important: There are several other ways to stalk your status, but the easiest and most convenient one is this.

Common Reasons for Application Delays or Rejections

• SASSA system is delayed due to high applications.
• Any wrong detail entered in the application form.
• Missing information or a document while applying.
• Details of account creation do not match the details entered in the application form.
• Bank account verification delays.
• eKYC verification check failed or is in progress.

Important: If you have entered any wrong detail while applying, you must correct it ASAP by updating the application.

How to Appeal a Declined SASSA Grant Application

The SASSA application declined due to an unknown reason, but it’s not a dead end. Don’t lose hope and do this instead.

• Lodge an appeal to SASSA about the rejected grant application through the SASSA appeal portal page.
• Click on lodge appeal and provide your cell phone and ID number.
• Write a valid reason in the box for the appeal.
• Confirm OTP on the number and done.

Important: Appeal must be held within the next 30 days of rejection, and it can take up to 90 days for review and processing by SASSA.

When to Expect Your Money

The application is done and approved by SASSA, now you have to expect your money to appear in the next SASSA payment date of the month.

Alternative Ways to Apply for SASSA Grants

If you’re digitally literate, then it’s good, but for some people in South Africa, like elderly persons or people living in remote areas who have no access to a good internet connection, other ways can also use some other ways for applying.

How to Apply for SASSA Grant via WhatsApp and GovChat

These two methods still require internet access, but they are also helpful for some people in the country who have access to only mobile data to use Android apps on their phones.

WhatsApp

• Before proceeding with WhatsApp, first save the SASSA number in your phone.
• Type a message “Hello,” and you will receive an auto-generated reply from the SASSA.
• Now choose the option “Apply for a grant” and send.
• Follow the autogenerated prompts and provide all the required information it asks for from you.
• Choose the payment method, and you’re done.
• After this, you’ll receive a confirmation message on your phone with your application ID.

Important: If you’re digitally literate and have access to resources like good internet, leave this for people who deserve this to save SASSA resources, you can choose the other formal method I mentioned above through a portal.

GovChat

• Download the GovChat official app from the Play Store or visit their website.
• Tap on SASSA Service within the app or website account and choose the grant application.
• Follow the prompts and provide all the required things in the required formats.
• Confirm the application process, and you’ll receive a message with your specialized application ID.

Can You Apply for SASSA Grants Without Internet Access?

The only method available to apply without the internet is by applying in person, visiting the nearest SASSA office.

• Prepare and collect your documents in a file specific to the grant you’re going to apply.
• Reach out to the help desk and ask if you want to apply for an ABC grant.
• They will ask to provide the required things; provide them.
• After some processing, they will give you an application ID.

Important: before visiting the office, make sure you’re taking complete documents along with ID documents and a valid and active phone number which are basics and important.

FAQs