Tapering of Benefits – Self-Occupied Person (DSS)

Social Assistance beneficiaries who start participating in a gainful occupation as a self-occupied person, can opt for the Tapering of Benefits scheme if they earn at least the National Minimum Wage or more and if they have been in receipt of Social Assistance or Unemployment Assistance for at least one (1) year in the last three (3) years.

The awarded Tapering of Benefits rate is a percentage of the last Social Benefit rate awarded excluding bonuses:

• 75% of the benefit rate for the first year.

• 55% of the benefit rate for the second year.

• 35% of the benefit rate for the third year.

Beneficiaries are paid in arrears every four (4) weeks.

You may make use of an online Calculator to calculate your potential entitlement of the Tapering of Benefits.

Fill in and submit the application online.

General eligibility criteria:

An applicant who is now engaged in full-time employment as self-occupied and earning not less than the National Minimum Wage, should have been in receipt of a non-contributory benefit for a period of one (1) year in the last three (3) years.