Official reply:
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
QUESTION 1740/2013
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
Date of publication on internal question paper: 26 July 2013
Internal question paper no: 23
1740. Mrs H Lamoela (DA) to ask the Minister of Social Development:
(1) Does she intend to remove the means test for the care dependency
grant; if not, why not; if so, when;
(2) does she intend to remove the means test for the disability grant; if
not, why not; if so, when?
NW2087E
Reply:
1. No, there is no intention to remove the means test for the care
dependency grant at this stage. In a dialogue with youth with albinism
and parents of children with autism this year (2013), it was clear
that there are those that fall within this category and are not
included because of the means test. The Department intends conducting
a feasibility study on the introduction of universal benefits for the
care dependency grant. Proposals on this matter will only be made once
the study has been completed.
2. No, as indicated in the reply to the first question, the Department
also intends conducting a feasibility study on the introduction of
universal benefits for the disability grant. Similarly, proposals on
this matter will only be made once the study has been completed.