TLDR ( Too Long Don’t Read) : President Ramaphosa has extended the R350 Grant from March 2023 to March 2024.
Due to the enormous popularity and impact of the srd grant on the lives of several fellow South Africans, the President has extended the r350 grant by another 12 months and also increased the social grants payment amount to beneficiaries. President Ramaphosa in his state of the nation address highlighted some key areas his government will focus on this year, key among them being providing funds to SASSA to extend the R350 which was set to end in March of this year 2023 by another 12 months set to expire in March 2024.
TLDR : SASSA is yet to give the details on what to do after March 2023 with regards to reapplications
Since this statement was made by President, SASSA has not yet come out with a detailed process of how it will be done. Whether they will implement the extension by asking people to reapply just like they did in 2022 or they will just roll over those who have already been approved and keep making payments. The way forward is not yet clear from SASSA as to what will be done. It’s expected that in the coming weeks, a format will be outlined by them soon.
TLDR : The budget for R350 payments from March 2023 to March 2024 is R30 billion. Its not enough money. So not everyone who applies will be paid
Over 10 million South Africans have applied for the temporary r350 relief grant every year that is extended. The budget made this year for srd grant was R30 billion. This means that most people who apply for temporary relief will not end up getting their payment processed. This is what has led to more people getting approved but receiving no payment dates for several months. Some too are declined for not meeting all the requirements and conditions for the R350 grant.
TLDR : If you are declined visit srd.sassa.gov.za to lodge an appeal
There are several who find themselves among those who were declined the relief grant. Declined applicants are to visit the main website to submit their appeal. In order to get a successful resolution to the appeal, applicants will need to check the information used in the application to be sure that it’s correct. The information can be checked on the appeal website page before they submit their appeal.
TLDR: Double Check the information SASSA has on you from the dashboard and then lodge your appeal. You can only appeal once.
Once the information is correct and they are sure that their contact details are also correct and valid. They need to check the reason that was given for their disapproval. That reason if they are sure that it does not apply to them must be double-checked themselves before they submit the appeal. You can only submit one appeal as a new applicant.
TLDR: If payment for a particular month eg: July is disapproved, lodge an appeal for July payment ASAP within 30 days of it being disapproved
Beneficiaries who only have their payment for the particular month declined must also make it a point to appeal for that month in question unless they are satisfied with the reason for declination, before 30 days of the declined status. Each month’s declined status must be appealed equally if you disagree with the reason assigned by the sassa agency for that period. This will means if you are declined for 4 months’ payments you will need to appeal for each of the 4 months for which you were declined. This must be done within 30 days of that month’s declined status showing on your dashboard on the website.
TLDR : Change your banking details to a bank account you own with any bank so that you will receive payment faster.
Once the submission has been done for new applicants, they must set their banking details in order to receive payments through their banks. It’s important to do everything right from the first time else receiving payments will become very difficult even if you are approved. You are allowed to use any bank at all from Capitec bank, FnB, Standard Bank, Absa, Nedbank and Any bank at all which you have a bank account with. You can even use Post Bank.
TLDR: If you choose cash-send then you will have to do a facial verification on SASSA’s website.
Those who choose the cash-send option to receive payment will now be required to complete a facial verification before they can set the system to receive cash-send payments. Facial recognition being employed by sassa is done to reduce the number of fraudulent claims being made to the relief grant by people who don’t really need it.