The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has urged recipients of the R350 COVID-19 grant to use the online channels at their disposal for any application amendments, or to lodge appeals.
This comes after president Cyril Ramaphosa announced last week that the COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant will continue to be paid for another three months.
When announcing the extension, Ramaphosa said the grant has proven to be an effective and efficient short-term measure to reduce the immediate impact on the livelihoods of poor South Africans.
The SRD grant, also known as the special R350 COVID-19 grant, is one of the relief measures government put in place to provide financial support to some unemployed South Africans amid the COVID-19-induced national lockdown.
According to SASSA, it has processed in excess of 9.6 million applications each month from May 2020 to January 2021, and paid more than 6.5 million grants per month. The total amount spent on this type of grant to date has exceeded R16 billion.
In a statement, SASSA states there is no need for recipients to go to a SASSA office, indicating that all SRD processes are done online, as are any amendments on applications.
“Those persons who have received this grant and are in the system, need not re-apply. All clients who have been paid through the post office should get bank accounts, and upload those details on the system.
“Every application will be validated monthly as it has been the case and if approved, will be paid. All applications will be considered monthly, as it has been the case.”
SASSA notes that persons whose applications for the special COVID-19 grant were declined can lodge an appeal for review on the SASSA COVID-19 portal. “Declined applicants who already lodged appeals need not re-apply nor re-appeal.
“SASSA reassures all citizens who had their special COVID grant of R350 approved but not yet paid by end January will still be paid through the existing payment channels, namely the South African Post Office, direct deposits into bank accounts or money transfers to cellphones, as requested by the approved applicants.”
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