Indigent Qualification

🧾 Indigent Application – Key Information

🔍 Who qualifies as indigent?

To qualify for indigent support, a household must meet one or more of these criteria:

1. Income-based: Household earns R4,500 or less per month (excluding child grants and pensions).

2. Child-headed household: Head is under 18 or up to 21 and unemployed.

3. Geographic qualification: Resides in a low-income designated area.

4. Organisation assisting the indigent: Registered NPOs or old-age homes.

5. Exceptional cases: E.g. household caring for disabled members, medical cases, etc.

📄 Application Process

✅ How to apply

Applicants must fill out the official Indigent Application Form and submit the following:

• Affidavit of employment/income status (for all adults in household).

• Proof of income (salary slip, pension slip, affidavit, etc.).

• Latest municipal account in applicant’s name.

• ID copies or birth certificates of all household occupants.

🧍‍♂️ Applicant must:

• Be a full-time occupant of the property.

• Not run a business from the property (even informal).

• Have a prepaid meter installed (mandatory).

• Not receive support for another household.

🔄 Verification and Duration

• Support is valid for 2 years, after which re-application is required.

• The municipality may verify the application at any time through site visits.

• False or fraudulent information results in:

• Immediate termination

• Full repayment of benefits

• 2-year blacklisting from future indigent support

📦 What support is offered?

Indigent households may receive:

• Free/subsidized basic services (water, electricity, sanitation, refuse).

• Rebate on property rates for qualifying properties.

• Debt write-off for municipal account arrears (only once).

🚫 When is support cancelled?

• Income exceeds the threshold.

• Electricity/water meter is tampered with.

• Applicant no longer lives on the property.

• A business is operated on the property.

• If the property is sold or rented out.

• If fraudulent information was submitted.

📌 Important Reminders

• Keep your municipal account up to date.

• Inform the Municipality of any changes in income, household status, or residency.

• Re-apply before your 2-year term expires.