Service Delivery-Grants-Older Persons

FOCUS GROUP
Old Age People from 60 years and above.

SERVICE
Community Based Services: Old Age Grant

LEGISLATION THAT DIRECTS THE SERVICE
Social Assistance Act 59 of 1992

BACKGROUND/INTRODUCTION
The approval of the Old Age Grant is also dependent on a means test that is mainly assessing the income status of the applicant.

PURPOSES/AIMS OF THE GRANT.
The grant is meant to help the elderly financially over the age 60 years and over.

CRITERIA FOR APPLICATION.
The approval of this grant is based on a means test which is mainly assessing the income status of the applicant. An older person who has an asset, which is less than R252,000 and income less than R 700 per month, is eligible to benefit from this 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 one of the following state institutions;

• 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 disability and war veterans grants.

Some of the private institutions (e.g. Life Care) 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
Older Persons and people with Disabilities.

SERVICE
To caters of older persons.

LEGISLATION THAT UNDERPINS THE GRANT
Social Assistance Act No.59 1992

BACKGROUND/INTRODUCTION
The grant-in-aid is not payable to residents in a state subsidized institution for example a home for older Persons or other institution in respect of a persons housing and care.

A grant-in-aid is payable in addition to a social grant and therefore is paid to the beneficiary and not to the care/aid giver/attendant.

AIMS OF THE GRANT
Grant-in-Aid is an additional grant awarded to persons who are in receipt of a social grant (Old Age/Disability/War Veterans) and who are unable to care for themselves.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE GRANT
This grant is intended for a person who receives a social grant and needs full-time care from someone else.

WHO MANAGES THE GRANT
Social security officials employed by the Department of Social Development in terms of the Social Assistance Act manage the grant.

CRITERIA FOR APPLICATION
A person shall qualify to receive a grant-in-aid if the person is in Receipt of a social grant and requires full time attendance from another person, awaiting to his/her mental and/or physical Condition i.e. the applicant is unable to care for himself/herself with basic daily functions such as; dressing, use of toilet, feeding, bathing, independent functioning etc.