The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) revealed that around 10 million people provided financial support from the social relief of distress (SRD) grant monthly. However, Sassa received millions of R350 grant applications from South African citizens that were unsuccessful.
If you are having problems with your Sassa grant process or your Sassa appeal process we are Skills Portal are here to help you. If you need to find out how to stay on top of the Sassa grant appeal status process we will try to help you out.
Sassa falls under the Department of Social Development and is tasked with helping South Africans meet basic needs.
As it was recently announced that more than R4Billion of Sassa SRD grant money was returned to the National Treasury because fewer people are collecting their SRD Grants there is definitely money available to pay out these grants.
SRD Status Check Appeal
Clients whose R350 grant application was declined have the right to appeal the decision made by Sassa. However it is important to note that the R350 grant appeals process has changed.
The legislation under which the SRD R350 grant is provided and the qualifying criteria are not the only things that change about the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant. The process of submitting a R350 SRD grant appeal has also changed.
The Minister of Social Development (DSD) has appointed the Independent Tribunal for Social Assistance Appeals to consider and decide on appeals relating to the SRD R350 grant.
Sassa R350 SRD Grant Criteria
In order to qualify and receive the financial support the SRD grant provides, applicants need to meet a specific eligibility criteria, which can be found on the SRD Sassa website. It is not just enough to need financial assistance. The address of the official website is https://srd.sassa.gov.za You can also find Sassa on Twitter (X) at Official Sassa
The Sassa R350 SRD grant is available for all South Africans, aged 18 to 59, who have no other source of income. This means they cannot be receiving a salary or any other grants from Sassa. So, the eligibility criteria are quite simple.
Once you send in an application form, with your personal details, to benefit from Sassa's Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant you should do a Sassa status check to make sure your application was submitted successfully.
If Sassa rejected you and you disagree with that outcome, the first thing you need to do is lodge a Sassa appeal. This is quite easy, as you can appeal electronically.
Sassa re-evaluates R350 Relief Grant applications every month to ensure the grant applicant is still in need of support.
Those who have applied for the SRD R350 grant and were rejected, have the opportunity to appeal this decision. When making a Sassa appeal to a declined application, it is important to keep up to date with the status of your appeal. Lodging a Sassa appeal for one of the Sassa grants can be complicated so it is important to stay up to date on your appeal status.
SRD SASSA GOV ZA APPLICATION
Here's how to apply for the SRD R350 grant online:
- Go to SRD Sassa website (srd sassa gov za application)
- Select your citizenship criteria at the end of the page (either pick 'South African ID Holders' or 'Asylum Seekers and Special Permit Holders')
- Select the yellow bar that says, 'click here to apply online' under the 'How do I apply for this SRD Grant' or the 'Asylum and Refuge Seekers and Permit Holders' section depending on your citizenship selection
- Enter your mobile number
- Click "send SMS"
- Then enter the one-time pin that Sassa has sent to the number
- Continue the application process by filling in the steps required by Sassa
How To Check Your Sassa Status
If you have an existing Sassa grant you can check the status of it. This also applies to the SASSA SRD payments. Your local SASSA office can also help you.
- Visit the SRD Sassa website.
- Scroll down to 'Application status'.
- Select 'Click here to check online'.
- Fill in the required fields.
- You should then be able to see the status of your R350 SRD grant application.
Apply for the SRD R350 grant on WhatsApp
Follow these simple steps:
- Add 082 046 8553 as a contact on your phone
- Go on WhatsApp and send a message saying 'hi' to this number
- You will then receive a response and you should then respond saying 'help'
- You will be given various options, reply saying '4'
- This will lead you to the Unathi Sassa platform message which you should reply 'SRD' to
- You then have to confirm whether you're applying for yourself or someone else
- Now the actual application begins, and you'll have to submit your name, surname and South African ID number in the message
- You will then receive a message on WhatsApp stating the next steps
Check Your Sassa Status On WhatsApp
- Add 082 046 8553 to your phone.
- Send a message to that number.
- Follow the instructions.
What the Status Messages Mean
Before lodging your Sassa appeal it is worth having a look into the status message you received explaining why you didn't get the grant. It might explain the problem.
Have a look and see if the concern is valid. Check all the eligibility criteria to see if you do qualify. If it is it is probably not worth put in an appeal as you will only be rejected again. So you can avoid going through the hassle of the appeal process.
Citizenship
To be eligible for the SRD grant, the candidate must be a South African citizen or permanent resident.
Residence
Applicant must be living in South Africa.
Age
Applicants’ age must reside between 18 and 60.
UIF Payments
Applicants who are getting UIF payments (Unemployment insurance funds) are not eligible for the SRD R350 grant.
Authentic Information
Applicants must have provided complete and authentic information like their own 13 digit ID card number, mobile number, and bank account details.
Lack of Support
Applicants must not be able to support themselves and their family members, and they have no other source of income, like any additional government support, social grants, or unemployment benefits.
Insufficient Funds
If the applicant is found to be earning more than R585 per month, the application will be declined if there is seen to be an income source.
DHA Record
If applicants are found deceased in the record of the DHA(Department of Home Affairs), this will also result in the cancellation of their request.
Here’s How To Submit A New SRD R350 Grant Appeal
Follow these steps to submit a Sassa appeal:
- Visit The ITSAA Website
- Enter Your Identification Number
- Enter The Cell Phone Number You Used During The Application Process
- Click Send “Pin”
- Once you receive the pin, you will be required to insert it and click “Submit”
- Select the month that you are appealing for
- Secret the drop-down arrow to choose the reason for your appeal application from the options provided
- Click “Submit” to complete the Sassa appeal application process. Then you will be moved to the appeal status screen
How To Do A Sassa Status Check Your R350 Grant Appeal
In order to check your relief of distress grant appeal you are required to do a SASSA status check on your appeal to make sure that you appeal hasn't got lost in the Sassa system. You do need to know the appeal status to know if you must submit any additional documents. Then you might decide to appeal Sassa grants.
This can take time but if you do need the financial assistance the time spent checking on your appeal status for your Sassa SRD grant will be worthwhile in the end. The grant application status can be changed at any time after you have submitted the application.
To check on your SASSA SRD grant appeal status you need to have your ID number with you. This is how you research your SASSA grant appeal and find out your grant appeal status.
SASSA Appeal
1: Go to Sassa Appeals Website
2: Enter ID number
3: Enter telephone number
4: Track appeal
You can also call the Sassa Call Centre on their cellphone number which is 0800 601 011. If you've already submitted an appeal, you don't need to submit another or contact the Sassa office.
It is important to note that the outcome of your appeal will be relayed through a confirmation message via SMS, this is why it is important to provide the correct contact details.
When Will I Know If My Appeal Was Successful Or Not?
It is important to note that these appeal applications are no longer submitted directly to Sassa. Initially, Sassa handled the appeal applications when the Sassa grant was first introduced, but they no longer process appeals.
Instead, unsuccessful R350 grant applications must submit a R350 grant appeal application to the Independent Tribunal For Social Assistance Appeals (ITSAA).
Once individuals have submitted their appeal application, the ITSAA then uses various databases to verify information provided to verify their eligibility for the Sassa grant.
The databases are used to confirm personal information and income information as well.
Furthermore, applicants are advised that they will receive the outcome of their appeal applications between 60 to 90 days from when it was submitted.
The decision made by the ITSAA are considered final. The only other step is a Judicial Review if you feel you were rejected unfairly.
Beneficiaries should also be open to the possibility that the process can take longer due to the influx of similar applications being processed by the application system. Keep in mind that the R350 grant is administered entirely online.
Remember to always provide accurate information, submit all required documents, and regularly check for updates on your application and appeal, as can save your a lot of time and effort.
How social relief grant payments work
It's important to note that the relief of distress grant, commonly known as the R350 grant, does not have a fixed payment date. Sassa approves applications for this grant, and beneficiaries are notified via message when their payment is available for collection.
Once your Sassa SRD status check appeal has been confirmed successful, payments will then be made from the month you initially applied after bank verification.
You should make sure that Sassa has your banking account details so that the grant can be paid to you directly. You will need to keep doing a Sassa status check until you see the money in your account or you have collected it.
Collect Your R350 Grant
There are a few options which social grant beneficiaries can choose from to collect their social grants payments. The easiest way to get your Sassa grant payment is to have your social grant deposited directly into your account at your bank on the pay date.
Bank Account: SASSA SRD relief grant beneficiaries have the option of having their grants paid directly into their account by providing Sassa with their banking details.
This is a convenient grant payment method as beneficiaries can access their money at any time after the payment was made by Sassa.
Sassa has said that the banking details need to belong to the beneficiary. Beneficiaries will also need to provide their mobile number and South African ID number so that Sassa can notify them of their Sassa payments being ready. You can lodge an appeal if it is not paid.
CashSend Services: Should beneficiaries not have a account with banking details, they can also receive your R350 grant through a CashSend.
Beneficiaries will have to 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.
Retail outlets: Social grants are paid to selected retailers around the country. Beneficiaries can withdraw their money at any time when the retail outlet is operational. Pick n Pay, Shoprite, Boxer stores, Usave stores and Checkers all distribute social grants.
Shoprite Group: The Shoprite Group has now made it possible for R350 grant holders to fetch their SRD grant payments at any of their 1 286 supermarkets across South Africa, which includes Checkers, USave, OK and Shoprite stores.
Need To Contact SASSA? Here Are The Sassa Contact Details
You can visit the Sassa website for information or contact Sassa directly on the phone or at your local Sassa office. The Sassa number (which is toll-free) is 080060 10 11 and dedicated email address for grant enquiries ([email protected]) are available for assistance and support. If you don't want to contact Sassa directly you can also reach Sassa on their social media channels.
The SASSA Toll-Free Number
The toll-free number for Sassa is a dedicated helpline specifically designed to address queries and provide guidance to applicants and approved grant beneficiaries from Sassa officials if you need further assistance.
Toll-free means that it does not cost beneficiaries any money or airtime to call SASSA for their grant queries. When you call Sassa they can also do the Sassa status check for you on the phone.
The SASSA Head Office
Serious concerns, even those involving how to submit banking details, may be escalated to the SASSA head office, which is the central administrative body responsible for overseeing the grant distribution process.
We hope you have found this article on Sassa status check and how to run a Sassa status check appeal helpful.
To find out more about Sassa grants, including the R350 grant and how to submit your banking details, head to our Sassa section.