Service Delivery-Grants-Disabled

FOCUS GROUP
People with Disabilities

DEFINITION OF THE FOCUS GROUP
People with Disabilities

SERVICE
Community Based Services: Services to people with Disabilities.

DEFINITION OF SERVICE
All disabled people who are females between 18 –59 years and males 18 – 64 years are eligible to apply for Disability grant.

LEGISLATION THAT UNDERPINS THE GRANT
Social Assistance Act no 52 0f 1992

BACKGROUND/INTRODUCTION
The approval of this grant is dependant upon a medical assessment report confirming his/her Disability whether it is a temporary or permanent.

In the case of permanent disability, the grant doesn’t expire. In the case of temporary disability, the grant will expire as determined by medical officer or an assessment panel.

The approval of this grant is also based on a means test which is mainly assessing the income status of the applicant.

A disabled single person who has an asset, which is less than R 252,000 and income less than R 700 per month, is eligible to benefit from this grant. In the case of a married person the asset limit is R 504,000 but the income limit is same as single person.

AIMS OF THE GRANT
The grant is aimed at assisting persons who are living with Disabilities to enjoy a better life.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE GRANT
The applicant must be a South African citizen who is residing in South Africa at the time of application and must not be in receipt of another social grant.

He/She must not be maintained or cared for in any of the following state institutions at the time of application;

• a prison
• a psychiatric hospital
• a state home for the aged
• a care and treatment centre and
• a treatment centre for drug dependents.

If the applicant is admitted to a psychiatric hospital for observation and treatment on a temporary basis, the grant can be paid for a period not exceeding 6 months. This also applicable to old age and war veteran’s grants.

Some of the private institutions are contracted by the state to take full responsibility for the care and maintenance of the residents.

In this instance if an applicant is a resident in the aforementioned institution the grant would be reduced to 25% of the full grant amount as from the 1st day of the 4th month from the date of admission. This is applicable to all other grants.

FOCUS GROUP
Children with Disabilities

SERVICE
Community Based Services: Services to Children with Disabilities

DEFINITION OF SERVICE
A care-dependency grant is payable to parent/s or foster parent/s of a child who is between 1 and 18 years old who requires and receives permanent home care due to his or her severe mental and/or physical disability.

LEGISLATION THAT GOVERNS THE SERVICE AND GRANT
Social Assistance Act 59 of 1992.

AIMS OF THE SERVICE AND GRANT
The aims of this service include;

• To prevent mental ill-health.
• To promote quality of life and the dignity of the disabled.
• To combat undesirable social conditions amongst the Disabled or their exploitations.
• To promote disabled person’s independent functioning in the community for as long as possible.
• To encourage employers to employ disabled persons in the open labor market.

The services are rendered through 105 departmental service points and 90 other service points that are managed by Non Governmental Organizations(NGOs) and Community Based Organizations (CBOs)

The service include;

• Information and education
• Development of social skills.
• Orientation/Adjustment to disability.
• Counseling
• Placement in employment.
• Material assistance.
• Initiation and implementation of appropriate community projects such as clubs and self-help groups.
• Initiation and maintenance of committees and Organizations.
• Recruitment, selection and training of volunteers who will be used to implement the programme.

CRITERIA FOR APPLICATION FOR THE GRANT.
Parent/s or foster parent/s shall qualify to receive the above grant;

• If he/she/they are the parent/s or foster parent/s of the child. There is no restriction to the number of care-dependent children per application.
• The child or foster child is disabled to the extent that he/she needs constant care of the parent/s or foster parent/s.
• The child is between 1 and 18 years old – Once the child reaches the age of 18, payment of the grant will be cancelled. The child can then apply for a disability grant in his or her own right.
• If the applicant qualifies the means test.

The means test include the following;

• Income assessment: (The income assessment is not not applicable to foster parent/s) The combined annual income of the family i.e. both parents after all permissible deductions referred to in regulation 15 i.e. Tax, Medical Aid, UIF, Pension, shall not exceed R 48,000. If income exceeds R 48,000 no grant will be payable, unlike an OA, DG, or WV grant whose means test differs by allowing for a sliding scale payment of a grant.

An applicant either qualifies for the maximum amount or not at all.

• Nationality and resident status: The parent/s are a South African Citizen/s and the parent/s or foster parent/s are resident in South Africa i.e. the foster parent/s does not have to be a South African Citizen but must be resident in South Africa.

Extent of disability: The child must be in the full time care of the parent/s or foster parent/s. At the age of 6 the child shall be evaluated as to his/her educability and trainability for attendance at a school for Specialized Education or if such a facility is not available by an assignee of an education authority i.e. the child must be assessed to see if the child can be taught basic life skills.

Foster parent/s of a care-dependent child are eligible for both a foster and a care-dependent grant i.e. can receive both grants for the same child. A person who is in receipt of a social grant is also eligible receive a care-dependency grant i.e. if a person is in receipt of Old Age or Disability or War Veterans grant can also qualify for a care dependency grant if such a child qualifies.

A person cannot have both a child support grant and a care-dependent grant for the same child. A parent or foster parent shall not be considered for a care dependency grant when the care dependent child is admitted to and cared for permanency in a psychiatric hospital or a care and treatment centre.

WHO MANAGES THE GRANT?
The Social Workers and Social Security officers in the employ of the Department manage the grant.