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60 Year Olds Urged to Apply for Pension
By Sapa, www.timeslive.co.za
April 6, 2010
South Africa
For the first time men now enjoy equal rights with women in access to state pensions, says the Black Sash.
It said legislation lowering the qualifying age for males to 60 came into force last week.
Women had always been able to apply for the monthly grant at 60 but until a few years ago, men had been eligible only when they turned 65.
"The age of eligibility has been gradually lowered over the last two years but this is the first year that it is equal with women," the Sash said in a statement.
The change would bring much-needed relief to tens of thousands of senior citizens.
The Sash would however continue to fight for the scrapping of the "undignified" means test that required elderly people to prove their indigence.
A universal old age pension would be cheaper and more efficient to administer.
The Sash said needy elderly men could apply for the grant by filling in an application form at their nearest SA Social Security Agency office.
They need not pay anything to apply.
Anyone having difficulty applying could phone the Sash helpline on 072-663-3739.
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