Pensioner says SASSA grant ‘totally impractical’ as money runs out each month

According to The South African, a Western Cape pensioner who has received the Older Persons Grant for more than five years says the monthly payment no longer covers her basic needs in real life. The woman, who asked to remain anonymous, told the publication the grant often runs out before the month ends and that she has gone without food as a result.

How the grant is used

The pensioner lives in a shared family home and supports one to two dependants, the article reports. She relies on the Older Persons Grant, worth R2 400 monthly, to help cover rent and housing costs.

Service and access

While she described the grant amount as insufficient, the pensioner said she experienced no major problems with SASSA’s payment process. She collects her grant at a retail store rather than a SASSA pay point and lives within five kilometres of a collection point, according to the interview cited by The South African.

Information gap and dissatisfaction

Despite the smooth payment access, she rated SASSA’s overall service as poor, telling The South African she had difficulty finding clear, accurate information online and was unaware of any additional support programmes she might qualify for.

Recipient’s view

The pensioner summed up her situation in a direct comment to the publication:

“Thankful for what is given on paper but is totally impractical in real life.”

Reader invitation

According to The South African, the publication is running a SASSA grant survey and is inviting grant recipients to share their stories. Respondents to the on-site survey can stand a chance to win R2 000, the article says.