SASSA Archives - You've Earned It

SASSA – South African Social Security Agency

The Older Person’s Grant run by SASSA (South African Social Security Agency) – also known as the state old-age pension – is a monthly income for citizens, permanent residents, and refugees 60 years or older with no other means of financial income.

You Qualify for an Older Person’s Grant through SASSA if You are:

a South African citizen, permanent resident or refugee

a permanent resident of South Africa

60 years or older

And your spouse (if you have one) pass the means test

not living in a state institution

not receiving payments from another social grant

The Means Test for SASSA

Only people who have a monthly income below a certain level can get the grant. The test to decide this is called a means test.

Because social assistance like state grants is meant for people who cannot support themselves, the South African Social Security Agency looks at the income and assets of the person applying for a social grant to determine whether a person qualifies to receive a grant or not.