Some applicants for the R350 social relief of distress (SRD) grant only choose the name of the bank without providing their bank account number during the application process.
According to the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) in Mpumalanga, this is a big reason why some SRD payments are delayed even after the grant is approved.
Why your SASSA SRD payment could be delayed
“Some of the delays that cause beneficiaries not to receive the R350 grant after approval is that they do not provide banking account, but they only choose the name of the bank where they want to get grant,” SASSA Mpumalanga spokesperson Senzeni Ngubeni said in a statement this week.
“Beneficiaries are reminded to keep on checking their personal details to ensure that they are correct, and the grant received by the right person.”
The Agency added that it only approves an application after verifying that the applicant is not receiving an income that is higher than the means test threshold. This means that if your application is pending, it is not yet verified.
“The applicants must be aware that the Agency does not only verify banking details, but it also verifies citizenship with the Department of Home Affairs and also verifies with the Department of Labour to check whether the person is UIF registered or not,” Ngubeni explained.
“If the verification of the above-mentioned requirements is not yet finalised, the status will state pending. When the applicants successfully pass all verification, SASSA will approve the application and the status will be updated to approved.”
Many applicants have indicated on social media that while SASSA has approved their applications for several months, it has not released payments. It is therefore worthwhile to confirm on the SASSA SRD portal that you have added your banking details.
On the portal, look for the sub-heading, “South African ID Holders.” Click on the yellow button to proceed. Next, scroll the page until you see the sub-heading, “Update your grant application.”
Click on the yellow button to update your existing application. You will now be required to enter your ID number and mobile phone number. The system will send you an SMS. Follow the prompts in the SMS to check that all your details are correct.
“For more information, contact our toll-free number: 0800 60 10 11 or 013 574 9428/9363 [if you’re in Mpumalanga] from 08:00-16:00 during weekdays, Monday – Friday,” Ngubeni advised SRD applicants.
Good luck!