Every day, SASSA disability grant applicants across Gauteng walk into hospitals to get their medical verification forms completed. It feels like the right thing to do; hospitals have doctors, equipment, and authority. But this common decision is quietly costing applicants’ money they cannot afford to lose. The Gauteng Department of Health has now stepped in to stop it.
Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Faith Mazibuko, is urging SASSA disability grant applicants to visit their nearest clinic or Community Health Centre (CHC) instead of a hospital when they need help completing medical verification forms, also known as referral or functional referral forms. Her message is simple: clinics can help you, and they will not charge you a cent.
“We want to make it easier for disability grant applicants to access the assistance they need. Clinics and CHCs are closer to communities and are better placed to assist with SASSA-related forms without placing an additional financial burden on applicants,” said Mazibuko.
Why hospitals charge you and clinics do not
Here is the part most applicants do not know. Under the Uniform Patient Fee Schedule (UPFS), hospitals may legally charge a prescribed fee for completing administrative forms, such as SASSA medical verifications. This fee applies even when you are not receiving medical treatment; you pay simply for the paperwork. Clinics and CHCs, however, provide this same service at no cost: the same form, the same signature, zero cost.
What You Must Bring to the Clinic
Walking in unprepared causes delays and repeat visits. The Department urges every applicant to bring these three items:
- Your South African identity document
- All relevant SASSA application documents
- Any available medical records related to your disability
Arriving with complete documentation allows health practitioners to fill in the verification forms accurately the first time, speeding up your entire grant application and reducing unnecessary delays.
Why This Matters Beyond Just Saving Money
MEC Mazibuko points out that clinics and CHCs sit closer to communities and are specifically equipped to handle SASSA-related administrative support. When applicants flood hospitals with grant paperwork, they add unnecessary pressure to facilities that need to focus on patients requiring specialised care.
“We appeal to residents to only use hospitals for services that require specialised care,” said Mazibuko.
By directing applicants to clinics, the department protects both the applicant’s wallet and the healthcare system’s ability to serve those who are critically ill.
