Disability grants: are you eligible?
Despite being treated for chronic conditions, a number of residents from Phoenix, Durban, say their applications for disability grants have been rejected by the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) after medical checks by its appointed doctors deemed them fit to work. Those affected say they are struggling financially and have lodged complaints with their ward councillors, who have taken up the matter with the agency. But Sassa says there is a misconception among communities on what conditions make one eligible for a disability grant.
ONE glance at Phoenix mothers Moganaygie Ramsami, Krishnaveni Chetty and Reena Sukdao and anyone would give them a clean bill of health.
But when you sit down to talk to these women, who are all in their fifties, you will find Ramsami has to take 31 tablets a day for various illnesses, which include a heart condition.
Chetty has epilepsy and because her seizures may strike at any time, she is not allowed to be alone or to drive.
Despite being diabetic and having high cholesterol and high blood pressure, Sukdao is unable to use her left hand after she injured it a few years ago.
All their aliments and medical conditions have been noted on their clinic cards but when they applied for disability grants with the South Africa Social Security Agency, they say they were turned away without being examined and were declared fit to work.
An angry Ramsami, 52, said she had been collecting a disability grant for about six years but it stopped two years ago.
“I re-applied on numerous occasions but every time I consulted with a doctor appointed by Sassa to see if I qualified for the grant, I was turned down.
“The doctor’s consultation was under three minutes and he never examined me.
“He would then tell me to leave and that Sassa would contact me,” said the mother of three.
Sassa would thereafter notify her that her application for a grant had been rejected because the medical report deemed her fit, said Ramsami. “This is really upsetting. “I feel as though government thinks we are lying about our illnesses.
“At one point, I became so fed up that I took a job at a clothing factory but I could not cope.”
The grandmother of one said she took 31 tablets a day and constantly felt ill due to the side-effects.
Ramsami lives in a rented semi-detached two-bedroom home with her daughter, sonin-law, grandchild and two sons.
“Our rental is R190, electricity is R800 and our water bill amounts to about R1 200.
“When I used to get the disability grant (R1 200), I used to use some of the money to buy food and the rest was for my taxi fare to the clinic and hospital. The grant stopped two years ago.”
Nine years ago, Chetty, 51, developed a serious cough and went to a private doctor for treatment and was put on a course of medication.
Soon after taking the tablets, the mother of three starting having seizures.
“The seizures were bad. I would get them at least four times a day. I went back to the doctor and was referred to a hospital where tests were conducted. It confirmed I had developed epilepsy.”
Since then the grandmother of five has been taking Epilim tablets to treat the condition.
“While the epilepsy is somewhat controlled, I still experience multiple seizures. Some days, I can get up to 10 at a time. Afterwards I cannot walk. It feels as if I have had a stroke and it takes an entire week to recover.”
Chetty said the tablets made her ill.
“Apart from feeling ill, I black out and I cannot remember things. The clinic, where I am being treated, has advised me not to go out alone or to drive, so my daughter lives with me and takes care of me. They have even told me I should not work.”
Chetty said she was paid a disability grant last year and her application was rejected when she re-applied this year.
“My husband works but he does not earn much. The grant would help me pay for additional medical bills and I would also be able to contribute at home.”
Sukdao, 57, believes Sassa is not taking the complaints seriously.
“I injured my hand during a fall a few years ago and because it swells up, I cannot use it to do anything. Sassa paid me a grant for a year and I had to re-apply. When I re-applied I was given a grant for six months. I re-applied for the third time this year and my application was turned down.
“I live with my daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren. My daughter and my other children help me out financially and I feel bad because I cannot contribute to the home.”
She said she had been to the Sassa offices on numerous occasions and had received no joy.
“I sit at the offices the entire day only to be told my application has been rejected. I am an elderly woman and I will not be able to find a job to support myself.”
Sukdao claimed that when she saw the Sassa-appointed doctor, the person had failed to examine her.
She hopes her cries for help do not fall on deaf ears.