The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) is a South African government agency responsible for administering social grants to eligible citizens. Sassa plays a vital role in providing financial assistance and support to vulnerable individuals and families, including the elderly, people with disabilities and children in need.
Sassa's mission is to ensure that social welfare services reach those who require them, helping to alleviate poverty and improve the quality of life for disadvantaged communities in South Africa.
Sassa introduced the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant during the pandemic to provide temporary financial relief to those who were not able to earn an income and experiencing financial hardship.
How To Collect Your R350 Grant - Sassa Payment Method
There are various payment methods for you to choose from when it comes to collecting your Sassa R350 grant, allowing you to choose the option that is the most convenient for you. Here are some SRD grant collection options.
Bank account
One of the ways in which you can receive your R350 grant is through beneficiaries' bank accounts. SASSA recommends this payment method the most as it seems to be the most convenient.
SASSA has said that once you submit your application and choose this as your payment method, you submit your banking details as part of your application process. This would make receiving your payment easier and faster. You will then be able to withdraw your R350 at any ATM as soon as they have been paid. Make sure that you have submitted your personal bank account details.
This is the most convenient method of collecting your Sassa R350 grant money as it comes directly to your personal bank account making it easier for you to withdraw it once the payment has been made.
R350 grant applicants need to provide their banking details for several different aspects of the R350 grant application process. This is because banking details are used when the applicant first submits their application and when they ultimately receive their grant payment.
Sassa undertakes the process of verifying bank details when a person applies for the R350 grant. This is because Sassa must ensure the applicant does not exceed the income threshold for the relief measure. If a person has more than R624 in their bank account, their application for the relief grant will be rejected.
If Sassa is satisfied that the grant applicant has passed the income threshold test after verifying an applicant's banking details and is satisfied that they met all the qualifying criteria for the grant, the application will be approved.
Applicants are encouraged to provide their bank details to Sassa if they want their grant paid into their bank account. If the banking details are valid, the grant will be paid into the bank account.
It's important to note that a R350 grant cannot be paid into a bank account that does not belong to the applicant. The grant applicant must provide their account banking details.
Grant applicants are reminded that changing banking details could lead to delays in grant payments. This is because Sassa has to verify all bank account details when receiving a grant application.
How To Collect R350 Grant At ATM Without Card
You can collect the R350 grant from your ATM even if you won't have a bank card. Depending on the bank that you use there will be different options for cash withdrawals or for sending a voucher to yourself. You can send the voucher to yourself and a pin to your cellphone. You will then be able to withdraw the money that is in your bank account directly from the ATM.
Sassa also has the cash send option which allows them to use the cash send feature. This allows you to withdraw the money from an ATM. You have to ensure that your cellphone number is Rica'd and correctly listed on your SASSA account on their official website.
CashSend Services
Should you not have a bank account, you can also receive your R350 grant through CashSend services.
This sees beneficiaries use their ID numbers and phone numbers to access their grant money. You must have a cell phone with a registered cell phone number and proof of identification. The cell phone number must be registered to your name as this is how Sassa verifies that the grant money is going to the correct beneficiary.
Checkers, Pick n Pay & Boxer Stores
In trying to find more ways for beneficiaries to collect their grant and to make SASSA grant payments easier, SASSA announced that beneficiaries can access their grant by visiting a Checkers, Boxer or Pick n Pay store. You will not be able to collect your grants at BP Pick n Pay Express, Pick n Pay Clothing and Pick n Pay Liquor stores.
Beneficiaries need to wait for an SMS saying that their grant is ready for collection before heading to the store.
Shoprite Group
The Shoprite Group has now made it possible for R350 grant holders to fetch their SRD grant payments at any of their 1 286 supermarkets across South Africa, which includes Checkers, USave, OK and Shoprite stores.
You would need to provide your ID and cell phone number. Beneficiaries need to ensure that this must be the same cell phone number that they used to register on the Sassa database, as a confirmation pin will be sent to this number to prevent fraud.
What Is SRD Sassa R350 Grant Payment Date?
As for what the SRD grant payment dates are, Sassa has emphasised that there is no set R350 grant payment date and that beneficiaries will be paid for the months they qualify.
It is important to note that SRD grant payments are not done on days when other SASSA grant payments are done.
If you want to check on your grant payment information this can be done via the Sassa official website. We also have information on grant payment dates for 2023 on the Skills Portal website.
How To Check Your Online Status For SRD Grant
Sassa has made it possible for SRD grant applicants to check their application status online. This can be done by checking your Sassa status by completing the following steps:
- First, visit the SASSA SRD website.
- You will then be asked to fill in your ID number, as well as the cell phone number that you used when you submitted your application.
- You will then be able to check the progress of your grant.
SASSA recommends that you check your status regularly so that if your application has been rejected you can appeal the decision as soon as possible.
If your Sassa SRD application was rejected, you have a chance to appeal the decision.
How To Submit An Appeal
If you believe that Sassa has unfairly or incorrectly rejected your application, you can submit an appeal. After Sassa has rejected your application, you will have 90 days to submit your appeal, however Sassa advises that you submit your appeal as soon as possible.
- You will first need to visit the SASSA appeals website
- Enter your South African ID number
- Enter your cell phone number
- Click 'send pin' and wait for the SMS which will contain the verification pin
- Enter the pin into the bar and click 'submit'
- Select the month you are submitting an appeal for
- Select the drop-down arrow and choose the reason for your appeal
- Click the submit button
Why Your Sassa SRD Application May Have Been Rejected
- Sassa has found that you have been employed and that you have made contributions to income tax.
- Sassa has found that the personal details and contact details that you have provided do not match the ones from the Department of Home Affairs.
- It is found that you are a current recipient of another Social grant, other than a child grant.
- It is found that you are registered with and benefit from the National Student Fund Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
- It is found that you qualify for UIF benefits OR contribute to UIF OR are currently receiving the Unemployment Insurance Fund benefit.
- It is found that you, as the applicant, are employed at a government institution.
- Your SRD grant can also be declined if you do not meet the age requirements or are above the age of 60. If you are over the age of 60, you may qualify for the Old Age Grant.
- If, as a beneficiary, you have been registered as deceased on the Department of Home Affairs database.
If you have been rejected for one of these reasons, you will not be eligible for an SRD grant from Sassa. However, if you submit an appeal and Sassa finds that you do qualify for a grant, you will be paid from the month that you submitted your application.
Eligibility Criteria For The R350 Grant
In order to qualify for a social grant you will need to meet the necessary eligibility criteria, otherwise, your application form will be rejected. Eligibility is determined through a means test conducted by Sassa.
- Applicants will need to be South African Citizens, Permanent Residents, Refugees, Asylum Seekers or Special Permit Holders
- Between the age of 18 and 60 years old
- Have insufficient means and no other form of income
- Do not already receive social grants on behalf of yourself and are not contributing to or are eligible for UIF payment, and have no financial support from any other source.
Applicants who do not meet these criteria, will not be able to receive SASSA grants.
The Impact Of The SRD Grant
By providing temporary financial assistance, the Social Relief of Distress grant has helped mitigate the effects of poverty by enabling recipients to meet their basic needs such as food, shelter and healthcare. It also had positive socioeconomic effects, as the injected funds stimulated local economic activity, benefiting businesses and job creation.
The grant played a crucial role in improving the health and well-being of recipients by ensuring access to essential healthcare services, medications and food. Furthermore, it contributed to social inclusion by providing a safety net and a sense of security to those who were struggling financially.
Due to the high number of vulnerable citizens who rely on it to meet their basic needs, the SRD grant has been extended multiple times.
At this stage, the R350 grant has been extended until March 2024.
Click here for the latest information and Sassa updates on grant payments.
