Appeal a SASSA decision on a permanent grant
On this page (6 sections)
If SASSA declines, reduces or suspends a permanent grant, you have 90 days from the date of the decision to appeal — free of charge. Appeals are not decided by SASSA: they go to the Independent Tribunal for Social Assistance Appeals (ITSAA), a body independent of the agency that made the decision. Lodge in writing at any SASSA office, or direct to the tribunal. Expect roughly 60–90 days for an outcome.
Step 1: ask SASSA to reconsider
Before the tribunal, take the decision back to the office that made it. Many declines rest on a document that was missing, a bank account that has since closed, or an income record that is out of date — those are fixed faster at the counter than through a formal appeal. Ask for the reason for the decision in writing: you cannot argue against a reason you have not been told, and SASSA is obliged to give one.
Step 2: lodge the appeal
- Write the appeal
State your full name, ID number, the grant applied for, the date of the decision and the reason given. Then set out plainly why the decision is wrong. One page is enough — clarity beats length.
- Attach the evidence that answers the reason
This is what decides appeals. Declined on income? Attach current bank statements and a letter confirming the job ended. Declined on a medical finding? Attach specialist reports the assessment did not see. Declined on assets? Attach the municipal valuation.
- Submit it and get proof
Hand it in at any SASSA office and insist on a stamped copy or receipt, or send it to the tribunal directly. Without proof of submission you cannot show you met the 90 days.
- Follow up after 60 days
Contact ITSAA on 012 312 7727, or the office where you lodged, quoting your ID number and the date you submitted. Keep a note of every call: who you spoke to and when.
What makes an appeal succeed
| Reason given | What actually overturns it |
|---|---|
| Income above the threshold | Current bank statements plus proof the income ended — a discharge letter, a UIF record, an employer's letter |
| Assets above the threshold | A municipal valuation, and proof of what the asset test excludes — the home you live in does not count |
| Medical assessment found you fit to work | Specialist reports, hospital records or a treating doctor's letter covering what the assessment missed |
| Documents missing or incomplete | The documents themselves, or the affidavits SASSA accepts in their place — see documents |
| Not a primary caregiver | School records, clinic cards, an affidavit from the ward councillor or school confirming the child lives with you |
| Married-couple income | Proof of divorce or separation, or that the spouse's income is a social grant — a spouse's grant does not count as income |
Appealing a suspension or a review outcome
The same 90-day right applies when a grant is suspended or stopped after a review. In practice the faster route is usually to complete the review or apply for reinstatement first, because that restores payment directly. Appeal when SASSA has considered your evidence and you still disagree with the outcome.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to appeal a SASSA decision?
90 days from the date of the decision. Lodge as early as you can — the tribunal counts from the decision date, not from when the letter reached you.
Who decides SASSA appeals?
The Independent Tribunal for Social Assistance Appeals (ITSAA), which is independent of SASSA. Reach it on 012 312 7727.
How long does an appeal take?
Usually 60 to 90 days once lodged. Follow up if you have heard nothing after 60 days.
Do I get backpay if the appeal succeeds?
Yes. A successful appeal restores the grant from the date you should have been approved, so the arrears are paid with the first payment.
Can I appeal more than once?
The tribunal decides the appeal. If circumstances change afterwards — a new diagnosis, a change in income — the route is a fresh application, not a second appeal on the same facts.
Is the SRD appeal the same?
No. SRD appeals are lodged online at srd.dsd.gov.za, per declined month, within 90 days of that month's outcome. See appeal an SRD decline.
Verified information
- Responsible body
- South African Social Security Agency (SASSA)
- Official source
- sassa.gov.za
- Status
- Officially confirmed
- Date verified
- Confidence
- High confidence
The 90-day window and the role of the Independent Tribunal for Social Assistance Appeals (ITSAA) are confirmed against the Social Assistance Act and the Department of Social Development's published appeal guidance.
SA Benefits is independent and not affiliated with SASSA or government. Editorial guidance on this page is clearly separated from official information — see how we verify.
What's changed on this page (1)
Published covering the permanent-grant appeal route: reconsideration at SASSA, then the ITSAA tribunal within 90 days, with the tribunal's contact details and realistic timelines.
Site-wide corrections are logged publicly in the corrections register.
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