SASSA Permanent Grants, Explained
SASSA pays seven permanent social grants — Older Persons, Disability, Child Support, Foster Child, Care Dependency, Grant-in-Aid and War Veterans. Unlike the SRD grant they are applied for at a SASSA office, paid on fixed dates in the first week of each month, and continue until a review or a change in circumstances. This page explains each one and how they fit together.
What are the seven permanent grants?
| Grant | Who it is for | Payment day |
|---|---|---|
| Older Persons | People aged 60 and over who pass the means test | First |
| Disability | Adults 18–59 whose disability prevents work, confirmed by medical assessment | Second |
| Care Dependency | Caregivers of a child under 18 with a severe disability needing permanent care | Second, with Disability |
| Child Support | The primary caregiver of a child under 18 | Third |
| Foster Child | Foster parents caring for a child placed by court order | Third, with children's grants |
| Grant-in-Aid | An add-on for a grant recipient who needs full-time care from another person | Third, with children's grants |
| War Veterans | Veterans of the Second World War or Korean War, aged 60 or disabled | First, with Older Persons |
How do permanent grants differ from the SRD grant?
- Application
- Permanent grants are applied for in person at a SASSA office with documents. The SRD grant is online only.
- Assessment
- Permanent grants are assessed once, then reviewed periodically. SRD is re-checked every month.
- Payment
- Permanent grants are paid on published dates in the first week of the month. SRD is paid in batches later in the month with no fixed date.
- Holding both
- You cannot receive SRD alongside a permanent grant paid in your own name. A Child Support Grant is paid for the child, so it does not exclude the caregiver from SRD.
When are permanent grants paid?
In the same order every month: Older Persons and War Veterans first, then Disability and Care Dependency, then the children's grants with Grant-in-Aid. A fourth date on the schedule is for grant reviews and life certification only — it is not a general pay day. Money is available from the date shown and does not have to be collected that day. The full table is on SASSA payment dates 2026/27.
Between approval and that first payment there can be a gap. If it leaves you unable to meet basic needs, SASSA has a separate award for exactly that situation — see approved for a grant but not paid yet.
What are reviews and life certification?
SASSA periodically confirms that a grant should continue. A review checks that your circumstances — income, disability, the child in your care — still meet the rules. Life certification confirms the beneficiary is alive and is now done online as e-Life certification through a facial check, or at a SASSA office. Missing a review or certification suspends payment until it is completed, so respond to SASSA's notice promptly.
Where do I apply?
At any SASSA local office, free, with your ID and the documents for that grant. If you cannot travel, a family member or friend can apply on your behalf — formally, this is a procurator appointed by power of attorney. Find your nearest office or call 0800 60 10 11 (Monday to Friday, 08:00–16:00). No one may charge you to apply.
Bring the right paperwork the first time: your application is only dated once it is complete and verified, and that date is what your grant is paid from. See the document list for every grant.
Can I apply online?
Yes, through SASSA Online Services at https://services.sassa.gov.za. It is a different system from the SRD portal and needs its own registration.
- Open the site on any internet-capable device. Use a browser such as Chrome or Edge and go to https://services.sassa.gov.za. You land on the SASSA Online Services home page, where you register before you can use any service.
- Register. Click Register, fill in your personal details and click Save. A one-time PIN is sent to your mobile number; type it in to confirm the registration.
- Keep the browser open while you wait for the PIN. If you close it, return to the login screen and request a new one.
- Choose the service you need from the home screen — applying for a social grant is one of several available there.
Two portals, two purposes
https://services.sassa.gov.za is for permanent grants and services such as e-Life certification. https://srd.sassa.gov.za is only for the monthly SRD grant. Registering on one does not register you on the other.
Guides in this section
Published guides are linked. Others are listed as text until complete — see what we cover.
- SASSA payment dates 2026/27 for every grant
- Older Persons grant: who qualifies and how to apply
- Child Support grant: eligibility, documents and top-ups
- Disability grant: the medical assessment and temporary versus permanent
- Documents and qualifying criteria for every grant — including Foster Child, Care Dependency, Grant-in-Aid and War Veterans
- The means test, your date of application and your date of award
- Grant reviews, e-Life certification and what you must report
- Why grants are suspended or lapse, and how to restore one
Sources: sassa.gov.za; Social Assistance Act 13 of 2004 and regulations. Last verified August 2026.
Reviewed by Secure The Grant editorial team against official SASSA sources on . How we check our facts