Earlier this week, the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) reopened the applications for the R350 grant. This was after the legislative framework under which the grant was provided had changed from the Disaster Management to the Social Assistance act.
Sassa said that additional qualifying and assessment criteria will be added to those wanting to benefit from the grant.
This means that everyone in need of assistance will have to apply for the R350 grant or reapply if they were previously in receipt of this grant.
One change applies to the income threshold.
The Gazette stated:
The income threshold for insufficient means, contemplated in this regulation, is R350 per person per month.
Previously the income threshold was R595.
Sassa defined income in terms of the R350 as any source of income as defined in regulation 19 of the Social Assistance Regulations, 2008 and includes any form of donation, other financial support or financial assistance received by the applicant.
This lower income threshold could result in fewer people receiving the R350 grant.
Isobel Frye, from the Social Policy Initiative, warned of devastating impact the changes will have on the poor as many people will lose their grants.
She added that the process to apply for the grant is often time-consuming and costly for people who have nothing.
The regulation also states
... payments may be made in a subsequent period for an application or an appeal lodged within the time frames provided for in these regulations, and subject to funds being available
Frye explains that this could mean that deserving people who apply late when there are no funds left could be rejected on that basis.
