ACESS Supports the Minister of Social Developments call to recalculate the Means Test for Social Security Grants

It was reported in an article which appeared in the Sunday Times yesterday (the 10th of September 2006) that the Minister of Social Development, Dr. Zola Skweyiya intends to call for a review of the means tests for social security grants.

This should result in an increase in the uptake of the various existing grants, widening the reach of the current social security system. This is most welcomed by the Alliance for Children?’s Entitlement to Social Security (ACESS) which is a 1200 strong alliance of organisations across South Africa that are committed to fighting for the realisation of children?’s socio-economic rights through the promotion of a comprehensive package of cash grants, health care, education, nutrition, water and sanitation.

Local research indicates that grants have a significantly positive effect on poor households, enabling household members to access their basic rights such as education, nutrition and health care. Unfortunately to date many people living in poverty have been denied access to these lifesaving grants as a result of the stringent means test. The means test has not been adjusted in line with inflation so although the cost of living has increased which in turn increases the level of poverty and vulnerability, those most in need still do not qualify in terms of the current means test. For example with reference to the Child Support Grant, the combined household income of urban households should not exceed R800 and the income of rural households should not be more than R1100. In light of current inflation this must be urgently adjusted. The current means test is also costly and administratively burdensome. Although ACESS welcomes the progressive steps to be undertaken we strongly recommend that the means test be scrapped altogether in favour of a simpler application process which does not rely exclusively on proof of income but takes into account the high levels of poverty and unemployment so that all poor and vulnerable households can be brought into the social security net.

ACESS believes that the introduction of a comprehensive social security package is the only way to effectively reduce poverty and to realise people?’s basic rights to social security, education, health, nutrition and basic services as guaranteed by the Constitution. Therefore in addition to the revision or abolition of the means test ACESS urgently recommends the following:

• Extension of the Child Support Grant to 18 as a first phase of a Basic Income Grant,
• Provision of adequate food and nutrition,
• ARV roll out and literacy,
• Access to water and sanitation,
• Free Quality Education,
• Skills training and Job Creation.


For further information please contact: Karen Allan, ACESS Programme Co-ordinator, Tel: 021 761 0117 or 084 581 8577.