Finally, there’s assistance for old age pensioners in South Africa

While assistance for old age pensioners may look good from April 2024, with the South African Social Security Agency grant increase, we are still contacted regularly by old-age pensioners asking for help because they cannot make ends meet.

Many of the elderly say despite the government grants, one of the biggest challenges they face is being able to afford ever-increasing utilities (lights and water bills).

Because there is precious little financial assistance for old-age pensioners, they often have to choose between paying utilities/up-keep on their home and/or spending money on food and chronic medication.

ASSISTANCE FOR OLD-AGE PENSIONERS

However, there is good news at last.

Additional financial assistance for old-age pensioners is at hand in the DA-run Western Cape. This weekend, the City of Cape tweeted on social media platform X, that pensioners over the age of 60 can apply to the City for additional financial support.

Furthermore, assistance for old-age pensioners in financial strife comes in the form of (up to) 100% rebate on their rates.

As published on the Cape Town government website, this assistance for old-age pensioners applies even if you receive a social grant or a monthly pension of no more than R22 000.

CITY OF CAPE TOWN

“The City of Cape Town would like to assist more pensioners and offer support to the households who need it most. Eligible pensioners can qualify for a rates rebate of between 10-100%,” says the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Finance, Councillor Siseko Mbandezi.

Moreover, according to the City, roughly 10 156 Western Cape residents meet the criteria for financial assistance for old-age pensioners. Of these, 4 786 qualify for a 100% rebate.

HOW CITY REBATES WORK

• 100%: If your monthly household income is less than R7 500, you receive a 100% rebate for property rates and refuse removal on approval of their applications. This includes 15 kilolitres of water and 10.5 kilolitres of sewerage disposal for free. If your property value is below R450 000 you also qualify. 192 500 households across Cape Town benefit from this assistance.

This financial assistance for old-age pensioners applies if:

• You’re a homeowner.
• Household income is R7 500 or less per month.
• You own only one property.
• You are the full-time occupant of the home.
• The home is only used for residential purposes.
• You still qualify if the house was received in a divorce settlement/souse passed away.
• Pension and/or social grants are your main source of income.
• 80%: Assistance for old-age pensioners applies to properties valued at R5 million and under. Therefore R450 000 of a residential property value is not factored. This represents 700 000 properties in the city.

To secure this additional financial assistance for old-age pensioners, you or a loved one can:

• Phone: 0860 103 089
• Email: rates.rebate@capetown.gov.za
• Email: indigent.relief@capetown.gov.za

DOCUMENTS YOU WILL NEED

• Proof of identification (ID book/card or passport)
• Bank statement for the last three months.
• Bond statement for the last three months.
• Estate documents if the applicant has inherited the house.
• Latest salary/wage pay slip or a letter from an employer stating their income.
• Proof of disability grant, maintenance grant or pension is received.
• A sworn affidavit stating that they are unemployed (if applicable).
• Sworn affidavit stating that they have no other source of income (if applicable).