Eastern Cape pensioner says medical bills eat his entire SASSA grant each month

According to The South African, an Eastern Cape pensioner says his monthly South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) grant is almost entirely absorbed by medical expenses, leaving him struggling to cover basic needs.

Grant arrives, but medical bills wait

According to The South African, Stephen Khatlisi, who is in his late sixties and has received his SASSA grant for more than five years, told the publication that although he receives his grant directly into his bank account, by the time he settles his medical expenses little remains.

According to The South African, Khatlisi owns his home, holds a diploma and spent decades working in administrative roles. Despite that background, his retirement is dominated by financial anxiety driven largely by healthcare costs.

Budgeting squeezed by healthcare

According to The South African, Khatlisi said the grant does not adequately cover his nutritional needs and that food security becomes a monthly concern.

“My biggest challenge has been understanding why a previous application was rejected,”

According to The South African, that confusion left him without additional support he may have qualified for, forcing him to rely solely on his current grant to bridge gaps between his needs and his income.

Calls for clearer payment information

According to The South African, Khatlisi described SASSA’s application and payment processes as straightforward but said what he wants changed is clearer communication around payment dates.

“Not knowing exactly when the money will arrive makes it nearly impossible to budget for healthcare costs,”

According to The South African, Khatlisi said that for someone managing chronic medical expenses, even a few days of uncertainty can derail carefully planned finances.

Share your experience

According to The South African, readers who receive a SASSA grant and want to share their stories are invited to take part in the publication’s survey and stand a chance to win R2 000.