Can SASSA grant recipients qualify for NSFAS funding?
The answer to this question depends on what type of SASSA grant you are a beneficiary of. If you are a student (or parent of a student) and are wondering if you may receive NSFAS funding and a SASSA grant at the same time (both of which are funded by the South African government), please keep reading.
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) was formed to providing underprivileged South African students with the funding to pursue their tertiary studies at public higher institutions.
If you are a recipient of the SRD grant, you unfortunately cannot qualify for NSFAS (however, you may be eligible for other government bursaries).
However, if you are a recipient of other grants (such as the Child Support Grant, Disability Grant, Care Dependency Grant or Foster Child Grant), you may be eligible for NSFAS.
No person can receive funding from both NSFAS and the SRD R350 grant. Should the beneficiary be receiving any other SASSA grants besides the R350 grant, they will immediately qualify for NSFAS. Be sure to check the NSFAS entry requirements when you apply to see if you qualify for their bursary scheme.
According to the South African government website:
For one to qualify for the COVID-19 grant they must be either unemployed without any kind of income, or not receiving any kind of government assistance such as UIF and NSFAS, or social grants or any other financial support and must be above the age of 18.
Should the beneficiary be receiving any other SASSA grants besides the R350 grant, they will immediately qualify for NSFAS. Be sure to check the NSFAS entry requirements when you apply to see if you qualify for their bursary scheme.
NSFAS released a statement on their Twitter page – they said that 49% of the 2023 NSFAS budget was allocated to SASSA recipients who automatically qualify, based on financial eligibility. The 2023 NSFAS budget was R47.6 billion, of which R38.6 billion was allocated to students attending universities and a further R8.9 billion was allocated to students attending TVET colleges.
READ ABOUT: Types of grants
SRD R350 Grant Care Dependency Grant Child Support Grant Foster Child Grant Disability Grant Older Persons Grant Grant-In-Aid War Veterans Grant
Types of Grants How to Apply Status Check Payment Dates Jobs & Vacancies Updates & Blog Contact SASSA
QUERIES AND CONTACT
For any further queries, please contact SASSA directly:
Contact the SASSA Toll Free Call centre on: 0800 60 10 11
Contact the SASSA Head Office on: 012 400 2322
Email SASSA Head Office at: Grantsenquiries@sassa.gov.za
Contact details of SASSA offices across the country: SASSA contact details