The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) distributes social relief grants to people who are unemployed and financially vulnerable. Once you have applied for a SASSA grant and have been approved for the grant then you might be wondering how the grant payment process works.
You will receive a designated day of the month on which you should collect your SASSA grant payment, depending on which grant you have been approved for. Social grants are usually paid during the first week of a month. These grants include the disability grant, older persons grant and the foster care grant.
However if you are a beneficiary of the Social Relief Distress (SRD) grant then you will not have a fixed payment date, while child support grant beneficiaries are paid on the date which was ordered by the court.
Beneficiaries are allowed to choose which grant payment method works best for them.
Here is how the R350 SRD grants are paid:
Bank account
One of the ways in which you can receive your R350 grant is through a bank account. 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 paying your R350 grant easier and faster. You will then be able to withdraw your R350 at any ATM.
Post Office
You can also collect your SRD grant payment at your nearest Post Office. R350 grants cannot be collected on days where other SASSA grant are being collected.
Specific groups of people can collect their grants on specific days. This groups are made by using the last 3 digits of your ID number. You will also need to wait for an SMS saying your grant is ready to be collected and should not head to the Post Office if you haven't received this SMS.
Post Bank/CashSend Services
Should you not have a bank account, you can also receive your R350 grant through a CashSend, using the PostBank services.
This sees beneficiaries use their ID numbers and phone numbers to access their grant money. You must have a cellphone with a registered cellphone number and proof of identification.
PicknPay & 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 Boxer or PicknPay 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.
Just like at the Post Office, beneficiaries need to wait for an SMS saying that their grant is ready for collection before heading to the store.
Here is the rest of the SASSA grants are paid:
Bank Account
Grant recipients can choose to have their grant money paid directly into their bank accounts. If you choose to have the money paid into your bank account you will be liable for all the related costs for that account. If you choose to use your own bank account, you will be asked to complete a form confirming your banking details.
SASSA Card
Grant recipients can also choose to have their grant money paid into their SASSA card account. By using the SASSA card account, you are not liable for any costs, unless the card is used for services that are in excess of what SASSA pays for. If you choose to get a SASSA card, it will be issued to you by South African Post Office officials.
