The SA Social Security Agency (Sassa) is currently not taking new applications for the R350 Covid-19 relief grant.
This is according to Sassa spokesperson Paseka Letsatsi, who said the agency is waiting on directives from social development minister Lindiwe Zulu.
Letsatsi told Cape Talk on Wednesday that Sassa was not able to take new applications until it gets the green light from Zulu, who is set to issue directives in this regard by Friday at the latest.
“The long and short of it is, we are not taking new applications,” said Letsatsi. “This is not because we do not want to take new applications. We just have to get the directives from the minister in terms of the processes and methods.”
The R350 Covid-19 relief grant was extended last week by President Cyril Ramaphosa during his economic reconstruction and recovery plan address.
Ramaphosa said the grant would be extended by another three months after the initial end-date, which was the end of October. The relief grant was meant for unemployed citizens and qualifying foreign citizens during the lockdown.
“As these and other recovery measures are being rolled out, we need to do everything in our means to provide support to those in society who continue to face hunger and distress,” said Ramaphosa.
“We will therefore be extending the special Covid-19 grant by a further three months. This will maintain a temporary expansion of social protection and allow the labour market sufficient time to recover.”
According to a BusinessLIVE report, finance minister Tito Mboweni said the extension of the grant will cost about R6bn. The money will be found in the budgets of other government programmes by reprioritising spending and not by increasing overall state expenditure.
Earlier this month, Zulu promised that outstanding R350 Covid relief grants will be paid to approved applicants on time.
Speaking on SABC News, she said applicants who have been approved can rest assured they will receive their payments.
“Let me assure the public and the people who made applications that came out [showing] that they deserve to receive the money, they will still receive that money even if the grant is ending.
“Those that deserve to be paid are still going to be paid because we budgeted for that and agreed that we will extend on the basis of payment of those who had applied,” said Zulu.
Zulu also assured that applicants who won their appeals after they were rejected will still be paid.
by Unathi Nkanjeni
Temporary social grant increases to stop
I hope we will get the money because since I’ve been approved on August till today I haven’t got anything from that covid19 grant
Since I have registered temporary grand nothing approved
I got one payment for may in June got June payment in October but on the link to check on the fone for the R350 I have paydays for July,august,september
Same to me since I apply for the r350 grand nothing is approved
Lydia I have received 2 payments first in July second in October I dnt understand is the Minister Zulu understand what we are going through money only fit them forgetting without us there is no ANC
ek het ok niks van die r350 gekry nue ek werk nie en het ok nie n inkomste nie asb ek het ok die geld nodig dankie
My cousin apply for distress grant March approved ,second payment decline of IRP 5 but he is not working since 2017 how did that happen?
I only get it once! Manamuhla naloku still I’m waiting. Corrupt leadership
I have been approved and recieved the first 2 payments for june and July…August and september says paid on the online system and says pay day is 26th october but I didnt recieve my money…the first 2 payments were paid via std bank cash send…
I don’t get a social grant for a covid 19 from the start till now ,The message comes from sassa says to me,my ID document does not match,I don’t know what does that means.
Hi we are waiting for August. September and October when will we get it
My son been approved in July but even now not getting nothing ,if we check it showing he is in Database ,please explain where is gone wrong.
I have applied more then 5 times because i was still drawing uif i dd not qualify. My last payment of uif was in August i applied again after that they keep on telling me i draw uif which is wrong. Me anf my wife is unemployed we have 4 children.. If i can get n job maybe cleaning your office i will do it. So please look at my case or i will go to the news paper about this..
I hope that they extend the grand for those three months because this grant has been helping us a lot since we don’t have any source of income and as for students who qualify we are able to get some money for transportation to our tertiary institutions and/ for lunch since some of our parents are unemployed due to the covid 19 situation. I plead with Zulu to agree with the president on this issue ,
My little brother just received May payment only and for other months are approved and paid and they gave me pay dates when I go to post office they say they see no money
I have received payment for June and July. However August, September and October was approved with a payment date but I have not received any payment. My November payment status is pending. Regards
I some here my niece she was approved in in June but till this day she got nothing but they she in database what can she do😞😞
I been declined sInce i apply on March until now it says i have been registered on uif while i don’t receive any uif
Hi please it is the 4 time I am filling out on line and I was successfully excepted to recieve this grant but it seems in vein to me. I have not recieved not 1 payment and was standing in long ques and when it comes to my turn the post office check nothing has been loaded on the system I apply for some help please. As the plate form what is on what’s up when you ask them what refrerence they wanting he says to me he don’t understand English but trying to learn so please government set up a platform where people know to give you guidelines to help you along. Regards Denise Moodley.
