War Veterans Grant R2,420: Who Still Qualifies

The War Veterans Grant is the smallest SASSA grant by number of recipients. It is also the least written about. That means people who may qualify often do not know the grant exists. If you or a family member served in a qualifying war, this is what you need to know.

The grant pays R2,420 a month.

Which wars qualify

SASSA recognises service in two wars for this grant: World War II, which ran from 1939 to 1945, and the Korean War, which ran from 1950 to 1953. Service in other conflicts does not qualify under the War Veterans Grant.

Because World War II ended more than 80 years ago, the number of living recipients is small and shrinks every year. Most surviving veterans are well into their 80s or 90s. If a family member served in either of those wars and is still alive, it is worth checking whether they qualify.

The two conditions you must meet

To qualify for the War Veterans Grant, you must meet two conditions at the same time.

The first is qualifying war service as described above.

The second is either being 60 years of age or older, or having a disability. You only need one of the two. Both can apply at the same time, but either one alongside the service requirement is enough to meet the second condition.

Given the ages of most surviving veterans, the age condition is usually already met.

The means test

The War Veterans Grant is means-tested. SASSA checks your income and the value of your assets. If they exceed the applicable thresholds, you will not qualify even if your service record meets the criteria.

The means test for the War Veterans Grant follows the same structure as the Older Persons Grant means test. If you already receive the Older Persons Grant, you cannot receive the War Veterans Grant on top of it. The two grants do not stack.

What you need when you apply

Bring your South African ID document to your SASSA application appointment. You also need official proof of your war service. The South African National Defence Force can provide service records for qualifying veterans. If the veteran is deceased and a surviving spouse is applying, speak to SASSA about what documentation applies in that situation.

If you are applying on the basis of disability rather than age, SASSA will arrange a medical assessment. You do not need to bring your own medical report to substitute for it.

Bring original documents and certified copies.

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Grant-in-Aid: an additional R580 for people who need full-time care

If you receive the War Veterans Grant and you need full-time care from another person, you may also qualify for Grant-in-Aid.

Grant-in-Aid pays R580 a month on top of your existing grant. It is for people who cannot look after themselves without regular help from someone else. You cannot apply for Grant-in-Aid on its own. It is only available to current recipients of the War Veterans Grant, the Older Persons Grant, or the Disability Grant.

SASSA assesses whether your care needs meet the criteria. A medical assessment is part of the process. If you believe you qualify, ask about it at the same SASSA office where you receive your grant.

How to follow your application

Once you have applied, you can follow the outcome. For general information about SASSA grants and to track application status, visit MySRD, an independent information website, not connected to SASSA or government, that covers South African social grants in plain language.

Contact SASSA directly

If you have questions about whether your service qualifies, what documents to bring, or the status of an application, contact SASSA directly.

SASSA toll-free: 0800 60 10 11 SASSA WhatsApp: 082 046 8553

SASSA staff can confirm eligibility requirements and tell you what to bring to your appointment.