Around 571,000 approved SASSA R350 social relief of distress (SRD) grants remain uncollected at the Post Office, Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu revealed during a media briefing on Wednesday (4 August).
These are grants from the previous phase implemented between May 2020 and April 2021 – and beneficiaries have until 31 August 2021 to make inquiries or risk forfeiting the unpaid grants.
Applicants need to contact SASSA asap
“A total of 571,724 grants which have been approved remain uncollected from the Post Office and I urge all applicants who have not received or claimed their grants to urgently contact SASSA, as they will only have until 31 August 2021 to make enquiries in respect of the previous grant from May 2020 to April 2021,” Zulu explained.
“I also wish to urge those who have not withdrawn their payments to do so before 31 August 2021. After 31 August, we will not be able to consider any enquiries relating to the previous grant.”
The Minister also revealed that there are 45,414 outstanding payments (transactions) from applicants whose applications were approved but not paid because they could not be traced or they did not contact SASSA to update their personal details.
“Any applicant whose application was approved but not paid because the applicant could not be traced or the applicant did not contact SASSA to update his or her personal details, shall forfeit the money to the State after 31 August 2021 and such applicant shall not be able to lodge any claim against the State,” she warned.
New SASSA R350 SRD grant application: How to do it
Minister Zulu also announced that new SASSA SRD grant applications will open on Friday, 6 August 2021 and will be paid until March 2022. There are there ways to apply for it:
- Application via website at https://srd.sassa.gov.za;
- Through WhatsApp on 082 046 8553; or
- Through USSD line *134*7737#
She reminded applicants to apply only through one of the above channels, adding that it is not necessary to submit multiple applications. Applicants will receive confirmation as soon as they have submitted their applications successfully.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the reinstatement of the grant in July after the government received better-than-expected revenue in the first quarter of this year.
Basic Income Grant
The recent unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, as well as a persistent COVID-19 pandemic, have revived discussions around a Basic Income Grant (BIG), with the SRD grant being viewed as a “stepping stone.”
“We have also highlighted that the special COVID-19 grant should ideally be a stepping stone to a basic income grant,” Zulu explained.
“We are now working on the policy aspects surrounding this, including the implementation and resource mobilisation aspects related to this grant, working with various stakeholders through a series of consultations and will provide updates.”
1 Comment
Good day!!!am I still going to get the 350