Social Security

 

 

Pension Rights

The law provides for means-tested old age grants for permanent residents of South Africa aged 60 and over. A worker is entitled to an old age grant (means-tested) if his/her annual income is below a certain amount. The old age pension from April 2015 is 1410 Rand for pensioners aged 60-74 and 1430 Rand for pensioners aged 75 or older. If the pensioner resides in a care facility under contract to the state for more than three months, the pension is reduced to 25% of the maximum amount.
A constant attendance allowance of 280 rand per month is also paid if the person receiving the old age grant requires the constant attendance of others to perform daily functions.
Sources: §10 of the Social Assistance Act 13 of 2004 (last amended in 2010)

Dependents' / Survivors' Benefit

Survivors' benefits (1410 rand per month) are payable to workers as provided under the Unemployment Insurance Act. On the death of a worker, the spouse or life partner can claim dependent's benefits. The dependent children can also claim this benefit if there is no spouse or life partner or if the spouse or life partner does not claim the benefit within 6 months of the worker's death.
Source: §14 & 30-36 of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 2001 (last amended in 2003)

Invalidity Benefit

The above laws provide for invalidity benefits in the case of non-occupational accident/injury/disease resulting in permanent invalidity. If a citizen or permanent resident aged 18-59 years is assessed with temporary disability for more than six months, that person is entitled to the means-tested disability benefit of up to R1410 per month, applicable from April 2015. The benefit is considered permanent if a citizen is assessed as medically disabled for more than 12 months.
Source: §9 of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 2001 (last amended in 2003)

Regulations on Social Security

• Unemployment Insurance Act, 2001