The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) handles the payment of social benefits, including pensions and grants. You can apply for a South African pension online or in person at your nearest SASSA office. In this blog post, we explain how to apply for a SASSA grant-based means-tested South African pension.
Where to apply for a pension in South Africa?
If you are a South African citizen and have reached the age of 55, you may qualify for a state old-age pension. The Department of Social Development (DSD) which is responsible for administering social grant payments in South Africa provides this. You can apply for this benefit through your local SASSA office or online using their website at www.sassa.gov.za.
If you are not sure where your nearest Social Services Agency (SASSA) office is located, simply enter your address in the search field above; then select “Grants” from the drop-down menu that appears next to “Your Estate/Area” on their website and look under “Community Service Officer” for more information about how and where to submit your application form once it has been completed. The following documents need to be brought with you when submitting an application:
- A valid identity document (ID) with a barcode – If this cannot be produced then bring proof that one exists such as an ID book or driver’s license instead
How to apply for a SASSA grant-based?
- To apply for a SASSA grant-based means-tested South African pension, you need to visit your local SASSA office and submit an application. You need to bring your 13-digit bar-coded identity document.
- If you cannot visit your local SASSA office in person, you can also apply online using the MyGov website or by phone at 0800 123400 (available between 8:00 am and 4:30 pm from Monday to Friday).
- Pensions are available from the age of 60 years old. There is a fee involved with applying for pension payments from the government; however, this fee will be waived if you are over 65 years old and receiving an Old Age Grant or Widow’s Pension from the Department of Social Development. Also, note that it usually takes around 90 days for SASSA grants (including pensions) application processing time once applicants have submitted all required documentation during their visits/applications at local offices/online applications, etc.
