The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has announced that August Social Relief of Distress (SRD) R350 grant payments will be paid during the last week of the month. The delay in grant payments is due to backlogs in the system.
Sassa spokesperson, Paseka Letsatsi says a glitch in their systems meant that R350 grants were not paid on their scheduled dates in July 2023. While this glitch has been resolved, August 2023 R350 grant payments will only be made during the later stages of the month.
The delay in payments raised concerns about the efficiency of the verification process for grant recipients. Letsatsi says the agency has systems in place to check eligibility, but it also recognises that individual circumstances can change, leading to delays in verification.
They explained that the R350 grant payment dates are not fixed but are generally determined by the last digit of the beneficiaries' South African ID numbers. However, this approach has caused confusion and frustration among grant recipients.
Sassa Grant Payment Dates
Sassa pays more than 18 million permanent grant beneficiaries monthly. This is in addition to the approximately 7 million R350 grant beneficiaries that receive government support monthly.
While Sassa permanent grants have a fixed payment schedule, the R350 grant does not have a fixed payment date.
Letsatsi explains that the R350 grant does not have a fixed payment date if it is not a permanent grant. The grant was introduced in 2020 to assist unemployed people who were unable to find work during lockdowns. The implementation of the grant was extended on several occasions and is not set to conclude in March 2024.
To mitigate challenges of uncertainty around R350 grant payments, Sassa has decided to publish R350 grant payment dates. These R350 grant payment dates will be published on various social media platforms and the Careers Portal as they become available.
When August R350 Grant Payments Will Be Made
R350 grant beneficiaries who were approved for payment in August 2023 will be paid from 25 August 2023. The last grant beneficiaries will be paid on 31 August 2023.
Payments (for clients who are approved for August 2023) will be processed from 25 - 31 August 2023.
Sassa encouraged grant beneficiaries to complete a Sassa status check to see when their grant will be paid. However, they are reminded that the grant payment will take between two and three working days to reflect in their bank account after Sassa made a R350 grant payment.
During that week clients are encouraged to view their status on the SRD website for the exact date that payment will reflect into bank accounts. Funds will take about 2 - 3 working days to reflect in the client’s account after payment has been processed.
Letsatsi has assured beneficiaries that the R350 grant payments will be administered this month and that the payment information will be published soon. They acknowledge the frustration of beneficiaries and express a commitment to resolve these issues and improve communication going forward.
Where To Collect Your R350 Grant
Bank Account
As a R350 Grant Beneficiary, you can choose to have your grant paid directly into your bank account. This allows you to access the money as soon as it is available.
Cash Send
In case you do not have a personal bank account, you can use the CashSend payment option to receive your SRD grant payment. You can use your ID number and phone numbers to access your grant payment. You must have a cellphone with a registered cellphone number and proof of identification to use this grant collection method.
Retail Stores
Grant beneficiaries can collect their R350 grant at several retail stores around the country. Pick n Pay, Checkers, Shoprite and Boxer stores pay the R350 grant. If your R350 grant application was successful, you are not required to reapply for the grant. However, Sassa will verify your eligibility status every month.
