SASSA Grant in Aid - Extra Support for Full-Time Care

If you already get an Old Age, Disability, or War Veterans Grant and you cannot look after yourself, SASSA can pay you an extra R580 per month called the Grant in Aid. This page explains who qualifies, how to apply, what documents you need, and how the payment works.

What is the Grant in Aid?

The Grant in Aid is an additional SASSA payment for people who already get one of these main grants and who need full-time care from another person:

• Old Age Grant (state pension)
• Disability Grant
• War Veterans Grant

The Grant in Aid is R580 per month from April 2026. It is paid on top of your main grant, not in place of it. So if you are 70 years old and get the Old Age Grant of R2 400 per month, and you qualify for Grant in Aid, your total monthly grant becomes R2 980.

The name says exactly what it does: it is paid "in aid of" your main grant. It is meant to help cover the cost of someone caring for you when you can no longer care for yourself.

Who Qualifies for Grant in Aid?

You qualify for Grant in Aid if all of the following are true:

1. You already receive an Old Age, Disability, or War Veterans Grant. If you receive a Child Support Grant, Care Dependency Grant, Foster Child Grant, or the SRD R370, you do not qualify for Grant in Aid.
2. You cannot look after yourself. This can be because of a physical disability, a mental condition, or both. You need help with daily tasks like bathing, dressing, cooking, taking medication, or moving around.
3. You need full-time care from another person. This person can be your spouse, a family member, a friend, or a paid caregiver. The carer must be available to assist you regularly throughout the day.
4. A registered medical doctor confirms your need for care. The doctor must complete a medical assessment form for SASSA stating that you cannot manage on your own and that you need full-time assistance.
5. You are not in a state institution that already provides full-time care. If you live in a state-funded old age home, hospital, or similar institution where care is already provided, you do not qualify because SASSA already pays for that care.

Examples of who qualifies

• A 78-year-old pensioner who has had a stroke and needs help bathing, dressing, and eating.
• A 55-year-old on the Disability Grant with advanced Parkinson's disease who cannot manage daily tasks alone.
• A war veteran who has dementia and needs full-time supervision.

How Much is Grant in Aid in 2026?

The Grant in Aid amount is set each April as part of the Budget Speech increases:

Grant in Aid is paid in addition to your main grant. Here is how it adds up with the most common main grants in 2026:

See our full SASSA grant amounts page for every grant and how amounts have changed over the years.

How to Apply for Grant in Aid

You apply for Grant in Aid at a SASSA office in person. There is no online application for Grant in Aid - SASSA needs to see the original documents and confirm the medical assessment.

Step-by-step process

1. Visit your nearest SASSA office together with the person who needs the care (if they can travel) or arrange a home visit if travel is impossible.
2. Take your South African ID document as the beneficiary, and the ID of the caregiver if they are coming with you.
3. Get a medical report from a registered doctor confirming that you need full-time care. SASSA will give you the official form to take to the doctor. The doctor must complete it and sign it.
4. Provide an affidavit from a Commissioner of Oaths (any SAPS officer can do this for free) naming the person who is your primary caregiver.
5. Complete the Grant in Aid application form at the SASSA office. A SASSA officer will help you fill it in.
6. Wait for the SASSA assessment. SASSA usually takes 30 to 60 days to process Grant in Aid applications. You will be notified of the outcome by SMS or post.

Find your nearest office using our SASSA Branch Finder, or call the SASSA toll-free line on 0800 60 10 11 to confirm what to bring.

Documents You Need to Apply

Bring all of these to the SASSA office:

• Your green bar-coded ID or smart ID card (the beneficiary's ID).
• Proof that you receive a main grant - a recent bank statement showing your SASSA grant payment, or your SASSA notification letter.
• Medical report from a registered doctor on the official SASSA form, confirming that you cannot care for yourself and need full-time assistance.
• Caregiver's ID - a copy of the ID document of the person caring for you.
• Sworn affidavit naming the primary caregiver and confirming the care arrangement. A SAPS officer or Commissioner of Oaths can sign this for free.
• Your banking details - the same bank account that already receives your main grant. The Grant in Aid is paid into the same account.

If the beneficiary cannot travel to a SASSA office, a family member can request a home visit or proxy arrangement. Bring a doctor's note confirming the beneficiary cannot travel.

How Grant in Aid Payment Works

• Combined with your main grant. SASSA does not pay Grant in Aid as a separate amount. It is added to your main grant and paid as one total amount.
• Same payment date as your Old Age, Disability, or War Veterans Grant. Older persons (60+) get paid first each month, usually on the second working day, followed by disability grants on the next working day.
• Same payment method as your main grant. If your main grant goes into a Capitec or Postbank account, the Grant in Aid goes into the same account.
• No separate bank statement entry. Your bank statement will show one combined amount, not two separate deposits.

See our SASSA payment dates page for the exact dates this month and next, or the full 2026 payment calendar.

When Does Grant in Aid Stop?

Your Grant in Aid will stop if any of these happen:

• Your main grant stops. If you no longer get the Old Age, Disability, or War Veterans Grant, the Grant in Aid stops too. There is nothing for it to be paid "in aid of".
• The caregiver arrangement ends. If the person caring for you can no longer do so and no replacement is arranged, SASSA may stop the Grant in Aid.
• Your medical condition improves. If you no longer need full-time care, SASSA can review and stop the Grant in Aid. A new medical report would be required.
• You move into a state institution that already provides full-time care (state hospital, state-funded old age home).
• Annual review. SASSA may ask you to provide an updated medical report once a year to confirm you still qualify.
• You die. Like all SASSA grants, Grant in Aid ends when the beneficiary dies. The family must report the death to SASSA within 7 days.

Common Confusion - Grant in Aid vs Care Dependency

People often confuse Grant in Aid with the Care Dependency Grant. They are different:

Learn more about the Care Dependency Grant if you are looking for support for a child with a severe disability.

Other things people get wrong about Grant in Aid

• Grant in Aid is not paid to the caregiver. It is paid to the beneficiary (the person being cared for). The beneficiary or their family then decides how to use it - to pay the caregiver, buy supplies, or cover transport.
• You cannot get Grant in Aid on its own. If you do not already get an Old Age, Disability, or War Veterans Grant, you cannot apply for Grant in Aid by itself. Apply for the main grant first.
• Grant in Aid is not means-tested separately. Because it depends on having a main grant, the means test is done once for the main grant. There is no separate income or asset check for Grant in Aid.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get Grant in Aid alone without another grant?

No. Grant in Aid is not a standalone grant. You must already receive the Old Age Grant, Disability Grant, or War Veterans Grant to qualify. It is paid in addition to your main grant, not on its own.

How much is Grant in Aid in 2026?

Grant in Aid pays R580 per month from April 2026. This is paid in addition to your main grant.

Who pays the caregiver?

SASSA does not pay the caregiver directly. The Grant in Aid is paid to the beneficiary (the person receiving care). The beneficiary or their family then uses the money to support the caregiver, whether that is a family member, friend, or hired carer.

What if my main grant is suspended?

If your main grant (Old Age, Disability, or War Veterans) is suspended or stopped, your Grant in Aid stops too. Grant in Aid only exists alongside an active main grant. If your main grant is reinstated, you can apply to have Grant in Aid restored.

How often is Grant in Aid reviewed?

SASSA may review your Grant in Aid annually or whenever your circumstances change. If your medical condition improves, or if the caregiver arrangement ends, you must inform SASSA. A new medical report may be required to confirm you still need full-time care.

Related SASSA Pages

• SASSA Hub - All Grants & Services
• Old Age Pension Grant
• Disability Grant
• War Veterans Grant
• Care Dependency Grant (different - for children)
• All Grant Amounts 2026
• 2026 Payment Dates Calendar
• SASSA Means Test Explained
• Find Your Nearest SASSA Office
• SASSA Contact Numbers & WhatsApp

Sources

• South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) - sassa.gov.za
• Department of Social Development - dsd.gov.za
• Social Assistance Act, 2004
• National Treasury Budget Review 2026

This guide is maintained by OurPower and updated regularly to reflect current SASSA procedures and payment amounts.