SASSA Disability Grant Appeal Letter (Word)
Use this editable Word letter if SASSA declined your Disability Grant application and you disagree with the decision. In plain English: you have 90 days from the date on your rejection letter to ask the Minister of Social Development to reconsider. Send this letter (by hand to your SASSA office, or to the Independent Tribunal for Social Assistance Appeals) together with your rejection letter, ID copy, and any new medical evidence. If the state doctor said you are 'not disabled enough' but your own doctor disagrees, say so clearly and attach your doctor's report.
How to edit this template
- 1Replace everything in orange square brackets with your own details, then delete the brackets.
- 2Write your 13-digit ID number and the exact date on your SASSA rejection letter — appeals older than 90 days are normally not considered.
- 3In the 'reasons' paragraph, state plainly why you disagree: e.g. your condition has worsened, new medical evidence is available, or the assessment did not consider all your documents.
- 4Attach copies (never originals) of: your rejection letter, your ID, and recent medical reports or hospital records that support your case.
- 5Hand the letter in at your local SASSA office and ask for a stamped copy as proof, or post it to the Independent Tribunal for Social Assistance Appeals (Private Bag X901, Pretoria, 0001).
- 6Keep your receipt or stamped copy — SASSA can take several months to answer, and you will need proof of the date you appealed.
- 7A filled-in example is included on the last page — use it as a guide for tone and length, not for copying word-for-word.
Before you submit it
- Confirm the recipient's latest format, document and submission requirements on its official website.
- Replace every example name, date, address and reference number with your own accurate information.
- Remove personal information that the recipient has not asked for, especially when sending the document by email.
- Check whether the final document must be signed, witnessed, commissioned or certified before submission.
Filled-in example
APPEAL AGAINST DECLINED DISABILITY GRANT APPLICATION To: The Independent Tribunal for Social Assistance Appeals Private Bag X901, Pretoria, 0001 Date: 20 August 2026 Dear Sir / Madam Re: Appeal — Disability Grant application declined Applicant: Thandi Precious Mokoena ID Number: 8506120456089 Date of rejection letter: 3 July 2026 SASSA office: Tembisa Local Office, Gauteng 1. I applied for a Disability Grant at the Tembisa SASSA office on 12 May 2026. My application was declined on 3 July 2026. 2. I respectfully appeal this decision for the following reasons: 2.1 The state-appointed doctor assessed me for less than ten minutes and did not review the specialist report from Dr K. Naidoo (attached), which confirms that my chronic rheumatoid arthritis prevents me from performing any form of sustained work. 2.2 My condition has worsened since the assessment. Attached is a letter dated 10 August 2026 from Thembisa Hospital confirming my admission from 22–29 July 2026. 2.3 I have been unable to work since March 2025 and have no income or UIF benefits. 3. I attach copies of: my rejection letter, my ID, the specialist report, and the hospital letter. 4. I respectfully request that the decision be reconsidered. I am available for a further medical assessment at any time. Yours faithfully _______________________ T. P. Mokoena Contact: 073 555 0142
Guides that explain this process
Apply for the SASSA Disability Grant: who qualifies (18–59), the state medical assessment, temporary vs permanent grants, the means test, and how to appeal a decline.
A plain-English map of South African government benefits: SASSA grants, UIF, NSFAS, RDP housing, free basic municipal services and more — who qualifies and where to apply.
Apply for the SASSA Older Person's Grant (state pension) at 60: who qualifies, the means test, documents you need, how to appeal a decline, and grant-in-aid.