Chapter 17:06
(b)
Social Welfare Assistance Act
as at 16th September 2016
Act 10/1988
any other person not referred to in paragraph (a) who is wholly or partly
maintained by the applicant or beneficiary;
“destitute or indigent person” means any person who lacks means of subsistence;
“Director” means the Director of Social Welfare;
“Minister” means the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare or any other
Minister to whom the President may, from time to time, assign the administration of
this Act;
“social welfare assistance” means assistance referred to in section five.
3
Application for social welfare assistance
Any destitute or indigent person or any person on his behalf may apply to the Director in
the prescribed form for social welfare assistance in terms of this Act.
4
Consideration of application for social welfare assistance
(1) Subject to this Act, the Director or any person acting in his behalf shall, on receipt of an
application made in terms of section three, consider the application and—
(a) if he is satisfied that the applicant is eligible in terms of section six to receive social
welfare assistance, register the applicant and give directions in terms of subsection (2);
or
(b) if he is not satisfied that the applicant is eligible in terms of section six to receive social
welfare assistance, reject the application;
and notify the applicant of his decision within a reasonable time.
(2) Directions given in terms of this section by the Director or any person acting on his
behalf may relate to—
(a) the nature of social welfare assistance;
(b) in the case of financial assistance, subject to paragraph (a) of section five, the amount
and duration of such assistance;
and may include such conditions as he considers necessary or desirable to impose.
(3) The Director may from time to time review any determination made in terms of this
section concerning the eligibility of any person to receive social welfare assistance or the
amount or level of social welfare assistance to be given to any person.
5
Form of social welfare assistance
Social welfare assistance granted—
(a) in financial form shall be in such amount as, having regard to the circumstances of the
beneficiary, the Director deems reasonable and sufficient, but shall not exceed such
rate as may be prescribed;
(b) otherwise than in financial form may take any of the following forms—
(i) rehabilitation, institutional nursing, boarding or foster home care;
(ii) counselling services;
(iii) the provision of orthopaedic and orthoptic appliances;
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