SASSA Medical/Assessment Referral

The SASSA Medical/Assessment Referral form is used by the South African Social Security Agency to refer a grant applicant to a medical practitioner for a functional or medical assessment. It is part of the application process for the Disability Grant (DG) and Care Dependency Grant (CDG). The form is completed by the treating practitioner and contains the client's medical history, diagnosis, and a recommendation for what type of assessment is needed.

The form is primarily completed by the client's treating medical practitioner (doctor, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, or other registered health professional). The practitioner fills in the client's medical details, diagnosis, treatment compliance, and recommends which type of health professional should conduct the formal disability assessment. The client's personal details (name, ID number) may be pre-filled by the SASSA office.

You need this form when you apply for a Disability Grant or Care Dependency Grant at SASSA. After submitting your initial application, SASSA will issue this referral form and ask your treating doctor or health practitioner to complete it. The completed form is then used to schedule your medical assessment, which determines whether you qualify for the grant based on your level of disability or functional limitation.

At the medical assessment, a SASSA-appointed health professional evaluates your functional ability and disability. They assess your physical and/or mental capacity, review your medical history and treatment records, and determine the severity and expected duration of your condition. The assessment typically takes 30 to 60 minutes. The assessment is free of charge — SASSA arranges and pays for it. Do not pay anyone who claims to conduct a SASSA assessment privately. The assessor completes a separate report that SASSA uses to approve or decline your grant application.

No. While the referral form is completed by your own treating practitioner, the formal disability assessment is conducted by a health professional appointed by SASSA. You cannot choose the assessor. However, the referral form allows your treating practitioner to recommend the type of specialist (medical practitioner, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, or audiologist) who should conduct the assessment based on the nature of your condition.

The Disability Grant is typically awarded for a period of 6 months to 5 years, depending on the nature and expected duration of the disability. If granted for a temporary period, you will need to be reassessed before the grant expires. SASSA will notify you when a reassessment is due. If your condition is permanent and unlikely to improve, the grant may be awarded indefinitely, though periodic reviews can still occur.

If your Disability Grant or Care Dependency Grant application is declined based on the medical assessment, you have the right to appeal within 90 days. The appeal is lodged through the Independent Tribunal for Social Assistance Appeals (ITSAA). You can submit additional medical evidence, specialist reports, or request a reassessment. Contact SASSA at 0800 60 10 11 or visit your nearest office to start the appeal process.

The Disability Grant (DG) assessment evaluates an adult applicant's (18-59 years) functional ability and capacity to work. The Care Dependency Grant (CDG) assessment evaluates a child's (under 18) need for permanent care due to a severe disability. The CDG assessment focuses on the child's daily care needs and dependency on a caregiver, rather than work capacity. Both use a similar referral form, but the assessment criteria and grant amounts differ.

The codes on the referral form indicate the type of health practitioner recommended to conduct the assessment: MP = Medical Practitioner (doctor), PT = Physiotherapist, OT = Occupational Therapist, AUD = Audiologist. Your treating practitioner selects the most appropriate type based on the nature of your disability. For example, a musculoskeletal condition might need a PT assessment, while a hearing disability would require an AUD.

Bring your South African ID document (green book or Smart ID card), the completed referral form, your SASSA application reference number, any existing medical reports or specialist letters, a list of current medications, hospital discharge summaries if applicable, and X-ray or scan results relevant to your condition. Having comprehensive medical documentation strengthens your application and helps the assessor make an accurate evaluation.

Yes. FillMeIn processes all data entirely on your device. Your ID number, medical details, diagnosis, and all other information entered on the form never leave your phone or computer — nothing is sent to our servers or stored in the cloud. This privacy-first approach ensures your sensitive medical and personal information remains completely under your control.