The certification rule
SASSA asks for certified copies of most documents. A certified copy is a photocopy stamped and signed by a person authorised to do it, such as a Commissioner of Oaths or a police officer, to show it matches the original. Two dates matter in the booklet: a payslip must not be older than three months, and bank statements must cover the last three months. The government's Disability Grant page adds that a medical report is valid for three months.
For disability applications SASSA said in May 2025 that documents must be certified and valid within six months. The booklet gives no limit for the certification stamp itself, so certify your copies shortly before you go.
SASSA's booklet says additional documents may be requested at your interview. SASSA dates your application from the day your documents are submitted and checked, so an incomplete file can delay the date you are paid from.
Documents everyone needs
- Your 13-digit barcoded ID, and your spouse's if you are married. If you don't have one, SASSA accepts approved alternative identification.
- A certified copy of your Section 24 refugee permit, if you are applying as a refugee.
- Proof of marital status: a marriage certificate, a death certificate for a spouse, a divorce decree, or an affidavit in case of desertion.
- Your latest payslip, not older than three months, and your spouse's if married.
- Three months of bank statements for every active account you hold, and your spouse's.
- A bank confirmation letter, or three months of statements, for the account you want to be paid into. It must be in your name.
Checklist by grant
Older Person's Grant. Everything above, plus proof of permissible deductions (tax, UIF, medical aid, a private pension) and proof of assets (property you own but don't live in, cash investments, shares, lump sums). Full guide.
Disability Grant. Everything for the Older Person's Grant, plus a signed and stamped referral letter with clinical information from your treating practitioner. A state-appointed doctor also assesses you. Full guide.
War Veterans Grant. As for the Older Person's Grant, plus proof that you took part in the Second World War or the Korean War.
Grant-in-Aid. As for the Disability Grant, with a referral letter from your treating practitioner showing you need regular care from another person. You must already receive an Older Person's, Disability or War Veterans Grant.
Child Support Grant. Your ID and your spouse's, the child's 13-digit birth certificate, proof of marital status, payslip and bank documents, and proof of school attendance if the child is aged 7 to 18. Missing school proof won't on its own lead to a refusal. A caregiver who isn't the parent adds one of the proofs on the Child Support page. Applicants for the Child Support top-up also need death certificates for both parents, or an affidavit.
Care Dependency Grant. The child's birth certificate, a referral letter with clinical information, and your ID and bank documents. The child has a medical assessment.
Foster Child Grant. The child's 13-digit birth certificate, a valid court order confirming the foster placement, your ID, proof of marital status and bank confirmation. There is no payslip requirement and no means test.
SRD R370. No documents. You apply online with your ID number, a cellphone number and a bank account in your own name. See how to apply for SRD.
Not sure which grant you need? The eligibility calculator shows which you may qualify for, and the grant comparison sets them side by side.
Frequently asked questions
What documents do I need to apply for a SASSA grant?
Your certified ID, proof of marital status, a recent payslip, three months of bank statements and a bank confirmation, plus the papers for your grant. The list above covers each one.
Do my document copies need to be certified?
Yes. SASSA asks for certified copies. Certify them shortly before you apply, so they are as recent as possible.