Beneficiaries of the Special Relief of Distress (SRD) grant were advised to re-apply for the Sassa grant before the end of April 2022. In a statement, the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) confirmed that people should reapply for all of the months they were refused.
How Do You Apply For the Social Relief of Distress Grant?
Before submitting your Sassa online application, make sure that you fit the following criteria:
-
South African citizens/permanent residents/refugees/asylum seekers/holders of special permits
-
Unemployed
-
Have no alternative source of income or financial support from any other source
-
Between the ages of 18 and 60
Additionally, Sassa R350 grant beneficiaries who will be considered under the new regulations (Social Assistance Act), ought to have an income eligibility threshold of R350 - meaning individuals whose monthly income is below R350.
If you are receiving money from the unemployment insurance fund this impacts on your eligibility criteria. Unlike some other Sassa grants and financial assistance there is no means test for applicants.
At first the SRD grant was going to be available for up to three months, but it has now been extended until March 2024.
SRD Grant Application Is An Online Process
Oliphant said the entire application system remains a purely digital process, thereby enabling quick access and turnaround times.
The application process is streamlined so it is one of the easiest social security benefits to apply for if you need financial assistance. You submit your ID number, your bank account details (it can be any of the major banks), your cell phone number and then grant consent for them to check the Home Affairs database to confirm your details. Its once you grant consent that your actual application begins. If they find employment information against your name then you will not be eligible for the Sassa SRD grant.
The Reapplication Process
The Reapplication Process is very similar to the initial application process. So if you haven't been approved it is definitely advisable to reapply for the financial support. There are many simple reasons why you might be refused at first. It could be the wrong banking details on your file, or the wrong mobile number listed with your application. Or they may have your personal details recorded incorrectly or the wrong payment method.
You can go to your nearest Sassa office to talk to them, but it is also likely with all the people there inquiring about their social grants that you might wait some time. That's why to apply online for your social relief grant online is usually the best way.
You are advised to reapply for your social relief of distress grant within 30 days of hearing that you have not been approved for the government assistance. However the very final date on which you can apply is 90 days after being refused on your existing application.
If you are an asylum seeker, or special permit holder, and meet the eligibility criteria you are also able to check on your application status and lodge a reapplication request.
In an extreme case, if your Sassa SRD grant appeal is complicated you might need to make a sworn statement. This can be done at any SAPS station.
Which Are The Official Channels For The SRD Grant?
To apply for the Sassa SRD grant, head to srd.sassa.gov.za.
SRD Sassa aplications using other channels are yet to be confirmed.
Sassa has also shared that there's no need for clients to apply each month but will need to check the Sassa website after every 3 months to answer a few questions - should they still need the grant.
The SRD grant has been extended for a another year and will continue until March 2024.
Sassa SRD Grant Banking Details
If you need to change your Sassa banking details - including banking details for your SRD grant we have all the details for you. As the grant is re-approved every month you need to make sure that your banking details with Sassa are correct or your grant won't be paid. The bank account must be in your own name as grants can't be paid into someone else's account. You'll find all the details in our Sassa banking details FAQ. You can also view our video on how to check your Sassa grant status.
Beware Of Fake Websites
There are lots of different websites that have popped up on the internet pretending to be the Sassa SRD website. They will ask you to enter your ID number and your cell phone number but they aren't the official Sassa website - so you have no idea what they are doing with your personal information.
Some of these suspicious websites are also based overseas. This means that they are moving your personal information overseas which against the law - specifically the Personal Information Act.
Zimbabwe Exemption Permit Dispensation
You qualify for the grant is you are a South African citizen, a permanent resident, asylum seekers and special permit holders. This also includes Lesotho exemption permit dispensation holders.
Sassa Grant Appeals
Normally the application process goes smoothly and the social grant is awarded to the applicant and paid into the beneficiaries bank accounts. However if you have problems with your Social Relief of Distress Grant application and believe that you have been unfairly denied you can appeal.
The Social Development Department have established an independent tribunal to hear appeals from people who think they meet the qualifying criteria but haven't been awarded the social relief grant.
There has been an increasing number of appeals against refusal of the grant because of eligibility criteria. In December 2022, the Agency confirmed that the number of appeals received by the Independent Tribunal for Social Assistance Appeals (ITSAA) increased from an average of 150 to 750 per month, following the implementation of the Social Assistance Amendment Act.
