EXTENDED
SUBSIDIES FOR
THE DISABLED ADD
TO DEPARTMENT’S
SUCCESS IN
HOUSING THE
NATION
The Department
of Housing
recently
approved an
extension to,
and increases in
the existing
housing
subsidies for
the needs of
disabled people.
This decision
was in reaction
to Housing
MinMec’s (The
Minister and MEC
Meeting) request
that the
Department
should research
the possibility
of augmenting
the disability
variation in the
National Housing
Code to also
accommodate
disabled people
who cannot use
their arms.
In the past the
existing
disabled
categories and
nature of
disability
included five
categories,
namely A, B and
C for various
walking
disabilities,
varying from the
use of walking
aids to the
partial and full
time use of
wheel chairs,
category D for
hearing
disabilities
(partially or
profound deaf)
and Category E
for vision loss,
either partially
or totally
blind. A sixth
category
(category F) has
now been
approved and
added for
limited or no
use of upper
body limbs. This
degree of
disability may
vary from
partial to total
movement loss or
paralysis in the
upper body
limbs.
Whilst subsidies
to qualifying
people without
any disabilities
amount R23 100
(in the income
category R 000
up to R1 500 per
month), R14 200
for persons
earning between
R1 501 to R2 500
and R7 800 for
those earning
between R2 501
and R3 500,
disabled, health
stricken persons
and the aged -
provided they
earn less than
R800 per month -
are granted R25
580. Disabled
persons nay also
obtain
additional funds
for special
modifications to
their houses
such as paving
and ramps to
their doors,
grab rails in
bath rooms, kick
plates to doors
and visible door
bells for the
deaf.
The latest
addition to this
list of special
facilities is
Vinyl folding
doors for
specifically
Category F, but
also for those
with walking
disabilities
(Categories A, B
and C) for the
bathroom and
toilet area. An
additional
disability
variation of R1
900 (labour cost
excluded) was
approved for
these doors.
Simultaneously
the existing
grants to
disabled people
were increased.
However, it
should be
emphasized that
the amount of
the disability
variation is
determined by
taking into
account the
nature and
severity of the
person’s
disability.
In Categories A,
B and C and E
the variation
now amounts R868
for paving and
ramps at the
doorway; R326
for kick plates
to doors and
hand rails
installation
where necessary
and R1 327 for
grab rails and
lever action
taps in die
bathroom/toilet
areas and
kitchens. For
Category D a
variation of
R844 is
available for
visual doorbell
indicators and
for Category E
another R844 is
available for
slip resistant
flooring,
stairs, corners
of buildings and
skirting on the
walls.
A Provincial
Housing
Department, may
in its
discretion and
taking
cognisance of
the type of
housing type to
be acquired, in
situations where
beneficiaries
who are
disabled, and/or
where
beneficiaries
who have a
financially
dependent
disabled persons
as part of their
household,
approve housing
subsidies for
such qualifying
beneficiaries.
Furthermore,
disabled subsidy
applicants need
not to be
married,
cohabiting nor
have financial
dependents when
applying for any
subsidy
mechanism. In
other words,
even though a
disabled person
earns more than
the qualified
minimum in a
specific
mentioned
category, he or
she will still
qualify for
additional funds
available for
any of the
special
modifications
required to
their homes.
THE R2479 ISSUE
The introduction
by Government of
the principle
that subsidy
beneficiaries
must contribute
R2 479 toward
achieving access
to the benefits
of the housing
subsidy reaped
fruits for all
parties
concerned. The
main objective
of this was to
ensure subsidy
beneficiary
participation in
the solution of
their housing
needs, that an
environment is
established
which instills a
culture of
savings and that
the values of
the assets
provided through
the housing
subsidy, are
realized by
being
beneficiaries.
Furthermore it
is aimed at a
product that
meets the
Ministerial
National Minimum
Norms and
Standards in
respect of
permanent
residential
structures. This
makes provision
for access to
the National
Home Builders
Registration
Council’s
(NHBRC’s)
Warranty Scheme,
in terms of
which all houses
financed through
the Housing
Subsidy Scheme
are now subject
to the technical
quality control
mechanism of the
NHBRC, a 5-year
warranty against
structural
defects on the
house and a
12-month
warranty on the
roof. Amongst
others, this
leads to
improved
technical
standards by
developers, as
all developers
must meet
minimum
technical
guidelines for
the construction
of houses.
In only ten
years since the
first Democratic
Elections in
South Africa the
Department of
Housing has
invested R28
billion to house
the nation by
securing housing
for the poor and
low-income
earners. This
involves the
construction of
more than 1,5
million housing
units. The
delivery record
is recognized by
the global
community of
nation-states
(United Nations)
as an
internationally
unprecedented
achievement.
For media
enquiries.
Please contact:
Thabang
Chilaone
Chief Director:
Communication
Cell: 0834882621