Grants

Grants

In response to a written question about the development of a policy on the universalisation of the older persons and child support grants, the Minister of Social Development replied that the promise of basic care for the poorest older persons and children still faces challenges; many are excluded due to various reasons including not having the correct documentation. While the Department has taken many steps to improve coverage to reach these beneficiaries in the past five years, evidence suggests that under-coverage will be effectively reduced by eliminating the means test and enabling all children and older persons to access the grants with the minimum of bureaucratic requirements. Furthermore, universal provision will enable many poor children that are excluded from the programme to realise the important developmental impacts that the Child Support Grant currently delivers to millions of others. The Department believes that universal provision of these grants will build national solidarity and reflect a common understanding that South Africans are committed to providing income support to older persons and provide children with the opportunity to develop their full capabilities.