This article will give you full details on how to submit an appeal to Sassa if your application for a R350 grant has been rejected. There are new rules for grant applications so we will show you what steps you have to take for a Sassa appeal.
SASSA stands for the South African Social Security Agency, which is a government institution responsible for giving social grants to vulnerable individuals in the country who meet the necessary eligibility criteria such as being South African citizens.
These grants include the elderly grant, disability grant, child support grant, foster child grant and care dependency grant. SASSA was established in 2005 with the aim of ensuring that social grants reach the most vulnerable and needy members of South African society.
The R350 grant - or SRD Grant - was introduced to help people who have no income or assets. If you qualify you will receive the R350 each month.
As the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) continues disbursing the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant, the agency has also had to deal with a huge SRD grant payment backlog of applicants who have lodged application appeals after their initial application.
Always Check Your Sassa Grant Status
It is always important to do a Status Check on your Sassa grants to make sure that they haven't lost your application.
Although most people find that Sassa is an efficient organisation, with so many millions of SRD grants paid out each month there is always a possibility that there will be some problems.
You don't want to be the person who misses out on your grant payment!
You will always need your ID number to check on the status of your Sassa grants.
If the Sassa status check comes back to tell you that your application is rejected you can, and should, lodge a Sassa appeal. It can be a bit time consuming to lodge an appeal for your Sassa grant but it is worth it.
Although you will have to spend a little bit of time appealing, you will receive your money if it is successful. Otherwise social assistance appeals are always an option.
How To Submit Sassa Appeal For The R350 Grant
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As you did with your SRD grant application online you should first visit srd.dsd.gov.za
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Click on the green bar that says 'click here to lodge an appeal or check appeal status'
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Enter your ID number
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Enter your cellphone number
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Click 'send pin' and wait for the SMS which will contain the verification pin
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Enter the pin and click 'submit'
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Select the month you are submitting an appeal for
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Select the drop down arrow and choose the reason for your appeal
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Click 'submit'
Additionally, you must appeal for each month that your request was rejected. Applications for appeal will be reviewed by an independent tribunal and you need to keep a check on the appeal status.
Since the Social Development Independent Tribunal already had information from applicants from Sassa, their processes were joined with Sassa's processes, which led to a limited and simpler appeals process.
The Independent Tribunal will then investigate and determine if Sassa made any mistakes in evaluating your application for a grant, which consequently resulted in the rejection of your application.
How long do you have to submit an appeal to Sassa?
There isn't much time to submit an appeal if you have been unfairly rejected for a grant.
Though it is advised that applicants must file their appeal within the first 30 days after receiving a declined status, this is not the deadline.
The very last day you can submit an appeal is 90 days from the day you were notified of the rejection. After that Sassa won't accept more appeal requests. Applicants will be informed by Sassa if their appeal has been successful or not.
You can read our complete guide on how to make a grant appeal to Sassa.
When you want to check your appeal status we are here to help you with a comprehensive guide to the Sassa appeal process.
There is also a video with details on the Sassa appeal process.
Once you have submitted your appeal to Sassa you need to make sure that you check on the status of your appeal.
Independent Tribunal
Sassa SRD grant beneficiaries who submitted a social relief appeal application weren't always being assessed by the independent tribunal. Before, the SRD grant was governed under the National Disaster Act which saw an appeal application reassessed by Sassa.
Once the pandemic slowed down, the SRD grant was then governed under the Social Assistance Act. This means that SRD R350 grant appeals are assessed externally from Sassa and the Department of Social Development, by the Independent Tribunal for social assistance in the form of the Sassa SRD grant.
Other Articles About Appeal Status:
You should Do A Sassa Status Check For Your SRD Grant Payments
