The South Africa Social Security Agency (SASSA) has issued an explanation of the SRD reconsideration process for declined R350 grant applications.
In a guideline issued on Wednesday (8 December), SASSA said all social relief of distress (SRD) grant applications are verified monthly to confirm if they still meet the qualification criteria.
SRD qualification criteria
“Applications that do not meet the qualification criteria, are declined with reasons,” the Agency said. The criteria includes the following:
- South African Citizens, Permanent Residents or Refugees registered on the Home Affairs database and holders of special permits under the Special Angolan Dispensation, the Lesotho Exemption Permit dispensation and the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit Dispensation, and asylum seekers whose section 22 permits or visas are valid or were valid on 15 March 2020;
- currently residing within the borders of the Republic of South Africa;
- above the age of 18 and below the age of 60;
- unemployed;
- not receiving any social grant in respect of himself or herself;
- not receiving an unemployment insurance benefit and does not qualify to receive an unemployment insurance (UIF) benefit;
- not receiving a stipend from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) or other financial aid;
- not receiving any other government COVID-19 response support;
- not a resident in a government funded or subsidised institution (e.g. Prison), and
- not receiving an income more than R595 per month.
In the context of the R350 SRD grant, SASSA defined income as follows: “Any source of income as
defined in regulation 19 of the Social Assistance Regulations, 2008 and includes any form of donation or other financial support or financial assistance received by the applicant of more than R595 as per the food poverty line threshold.”
Applicants whose applications have been declined have a right to apply for reconsideration via this link: https://srd.sassa.gov.za/reconsideration.
Since SASSA verifies SRD applications monthly, reconsideration applications must be submitted for each month the applicant has a declined status.
SASSA SRD reconsideration process
According to the SRD reconsideration process issued by SASSA, each applicant is “verified against refreshed databases and also against a means test through the banks.”
The means test via banks is used to verify if the applicant has an inflow of funds into his/her account amounting to more than R595 per month.
“Should the client be receiving an amount totalling more than R595 per month, the application for reconsideration is declined,” the Agency explained.
“Should the client not be receiving an amount more than R595 per month, the application for reconsideration is approved and paid.
“The reconsideration decision is final. Should the client wish to dispute the reconsidered decision, he/she should follow the legal route and approach the court.”
To read the full guideline, which also contains declined reasons and possible steps to take, click here.