Sassa: Explained
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) pays out social grants to people who receive a grant or need to receive one. This can be persons who are older people, children or people with disabilities.
SASSA is mandated by the South African Social Security Agency Act of 2004 to “ensure the provision of comprehensive social security services against vulnerability and poverty within the constitutional legislative framework”.
Social Grants are in place to improve standards of living and redistribute wealth to create a more equitable society. Grants are targeted at categories of people who are vulnerable to poverty and in need of state support.
If you are a South African citizens permanent residents or refugees and currently living in SA. You can apply for the grant. The grants available under SASSA include:
- Child Support Grant
- Older Person’s Grant
- Disability Grant
- Grant-in-Aid
- Care Dependency Grant
- War Veteran’s Grant
- Foster Child Grant
If your grant application is successful you will receive a SASSA card and a bank account where your money will be deposited each month. This card is associated with MasterCard and it can be used as a debit card.
You can either use it to make purchases, check your balance or withdraw cash at till points wherever MasterCard is accepted without incurring any transaction costs. You can also withdraw money with your card at ATMs, but you will be charged transaction charges. You and other people can also deposit money into this account.
