The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) recently revealed that more than 7 million people continue to benefit from the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant. The grant is commonly referred to as the R350 grant, due to the amount of money beneficiaries of the grant receive monthly.
However, despite the large number of R350 grant beneficiaries, there are still many people who have applied for the grant but have been denied financial support. For those individuals, there is an opportunity to submit a R350 grant appeal application in June 2023.
It is important to note that these appeal applications must not be submitted to Sassa. Initially, Sassa handled the appeal applications when the grant was first introduced, but they no longer process appeals. Sassa's appeal for the R350 grant is now dealt with by the Independent Tribunal For Social Assistance Appeals.
Who Handles R350 Grant Appeals
Unsuccessful R350 grant applicants must now submit a Sassa R350 grant appeal to the Independent Tribunal For Social Assistance Appeals (ITSAA). The independent tribunal was appointed by the Social Development department to deal with Sassa R350 grant appeals.
Applicants are encouraged to check the R350 grant eligibility criteria before submitting an appeal. Individuals who do not meet the eligibility criteria won’t be approved to receive the grant.
Who Qualifies For The R350 Grant
The R350 grant is available to unemployed people living in South Africa, including citizens, asylum seekers, special permit holders, and refugees. To qualify for the grant, individuals must be between 18 and 59 years old.
Those older than 59 can apply for the Older Persons Grant, while those younger than 18 may be eligible for the Child Support grant provided by Sassa.
To receive the R350 grant, applicants should not be receiving any other form of government support, such as grants from Sassa, benefits from the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), or funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). Additionally, they should not be residing in a government institution.
One important requirement set by Sassa is the income threshold. Beneficiaries of the grant must not have an income exceeding R624.
In this case, income refers to the amount of money in the applicant's bank account. If the bank account balance exceeds R624, the application for the R350 grant will be rejected.
Individuals who meet the eligibility criteria for the R350 grant should qualify for the payments. They can verify their payment status by completing a Sassa status check.
How To Check Your R350 Grant Status
Step 1: Vist the to the SASSA SRD grant website
Step 2: Scroll down to the 'South African ID Holders' and click the 'click here to proceed' tab
Step 3: Then, scroll down to 'Application status' for your SRD grant
Step 4: Click on 'Click here to check online'
Step 5: Fill in your ID number and the phone number that you used for your application, then click 'submit'
How Sassa Verifies R350 grant applications
Sassa emphasises that SRD grant applicants should be aware that the agency conducts verification processes beyond checking banking details. Banking details are needed for income verification checks to ensure the grant applicant does not exceed the income threshold.
The applicants’ citizenship status by consulting the Department of Home Affairs. Additionally, Sassa checks if the applicant is registered with the UIF (Unemployment Insurance Fund) through the Department of Employment and Labour. These measures ensure that the eligibility criteria are met and prevent any fraudulent claims.
How Often Must Your Submit A R350 Grant Appeal
Appeal applicants are reminded that they must submit an Sassa appeal for each month their R350 grant application was rejected. If they do not submit an appeal for a specific month when their grant application was declined, it is assumed that they accept the decision made by Sassa to reject their grant application.
Here’s How To Submit A R350 Grant Appeal For June 2023
Step 1: Visit The ITSAA Website
Step 2: Enter Your Identification Number
Step 3: Enter The Cell Phone Number You Used During The Application Process
Step 4: Click Send “Pin”
Step 5: Once you receive the pin, you will be required to insert it and click “Submit”
Step 6: Select the month that you are appealing for
Step 7: Secret the drop-down arrow to choose the reason for your appeal application from the options provided
Step 8: Click “Submit” to complete the appeal application process
Getting The Results Of Your Sassa Appeal
Individuals are advised that they will receive the outcome of their appeal applications between 60 to 90 days from when it was submitted. It's important to note that while the decisions made by the ITSAA are considered final, there is recourse available to people who feel the independent tribunal were incorrect in their determination.
Not Satisfied For Sassa Appeal?
Individuals who are dissatisfied with the decision have the option to approach the high court for judicial review within 180 days of receiving the Independent Tribunals decision.
How To Contact Sassa For SRD Grant Enquiries
If you have any further questions or require additional information, visit your Sassa page. Alternatively, you can contact Sassa directly by calling the Sassa toll free number on 080060 10 11 or by sending an email to the dedicated Sassa grants email address at [email protected]. Serious concerns can be escalated to the Sassa head office.
The Future Of The SRD Grant
Currently, the SRD grant benefits over seven million individuals residing in South Africa. However, there are concerns that the grant's implementation is scheduled to end in March 2024, potentially leaving millions of vulnerable people without financial support.
Many stakeholders have advocated for an extension of the SRD grant beyond the March 2024 deadline, suggesting that it should become a permanent form of assistance.
Alongside the call for permanence, stakeholders have consistently emphasized the need to increase the monetary value of the R350 grant. Inflation and the rising cost of living have eroded the purchasing power of the grant over time.
Despite being introduced at a specific amount, the current value no longer provides beneficiaries with the same level of support it once did.