With millions of hopeful South Africans applying for the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant every month, it's expected that many of these SRD grant applicants will be found ineligible. These rejected individuals then have the option to submit an appeal.
The Department of Social Development (DSD) has said that over 10 million appeals were received for SRD grants this year so far. This high volume of SRD appeals has forced the department to reconsider and improve their processing systems.
The Department said:
With over 10 million appeals reviewed in the last financial year, the new data validation processes have led to a significant reduction in the number of successful appeals, ensuring only eligible individuals receive benefits.
Of the 10 million SRD appeals received, 98% of them were found to be unsuccessful and only 112 000 appeals were approved.
“We have improved administrative systems and processes to validate records. Since the application process is entirely digital, it was easy for people to access the SRD R350 grant, even without qualifying. However, our enhanced and comprehensive data validation process has led to the detection and exclusion of many applicants or appellants who didn’t qualify for the grants,” explained Mr John Mokoele, Director of Social Assistance Appeals at DSD.
Most appellants now realise that even appealing may not yield positive results as we are conducting appropriate checks and balances.
Mokoele explained that the application process for the R370 Sassa grant is automated and that an Independent Tribunal is responsible for evaluating SRD appeals.
We need to give applicants and beneficiaries the confidence that their appeals are being considered and outcomes are issued. What is critical is ensuring that appellants receive their outcomes timeously. We should strengthen how we communicate the outcomes.
How To Submit SRD Grant Appeal
- Appeals need to submitted using the official Sassa SRD website.
- Log in using your ID number and the cellphone number that was used to lodge the original application.
- A PIN will be sent to your phone which you will need to enter to proceed.
- After logging in, select the “Appeal” option.
- Choose a reason for your appeal from the available dropdown list.
If your appeal is successful, you will receive an SMS notification. If you do not receive an SMS, you are advised to check the status of your appeal after 90 days.
Applicants who submitted SRD grant appeals should head to their local Sassa office after 60 days of submitting the appeal to find out whether they've been rejected or approved. If applicants receive an unsuccessful appeal outcome, they will then need to approach the High Court for a review.
