The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) continues to process millions of applications received electronically for the Special Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress Grant (SRD R350 Grant) since its inception on 06 August 2021.  Applications for this grant are done strictly on-line and not at SASSA Offices.

Once systems opened for this SRD grant, applications came flooding in by the millions.  SASSA recorded 11 237 724 nationally, by 25 August 2021 compared to the 8.93 million received from all provinces a week earlier.  Of the applications received, 6 944 454 are from females (57%), while 4 793 270 are from male applicants (43%).  Worth noting, 4 909 348 (44%) are new applications and 6 328 376 (56%) are from applicants who had applied for or received the grant in the previous cycle.  The current grant has added a care-giver in receipt of a child grant into the mix, thus increasing the number of females benefitting.

The official opening for application has seen SASSA officials working in full steam.  By 25 August 2021, a total of 1 914 538 applicants were approved of which 282 598 have already been paid the SRD Grant.  

SASSA appeals to those collecting their SRD grant at the Post Office to await an SMS from SASSA, notifying them that their grant is available.  They should not rush to Post Offices to check for payment as SASSA and SAPO are obliged to prevent overcrowding due to COVID-19 protocols. Applicants are reminded that normal social grant payment starts this week on Friday, 03 September 2021 and no SRD R350 grant payment will take place from this date until 08 September 2021.  This applies to people who receive their SRD R350 Grant from Post Offices only.

September 2021 social grant payments will be done as follows:

Starting Friday 03 September 2021, only Old Age grants including all other grants linked to them will be paid. Disability grants with all other grants linked to those disability grants will be paid on Monday, 06 September 2021.  Children’s grants are due for payment from Tuesday, 07 September 2021. Cash pay points start being serviced as from 08 September.

A last minute reminder is sent to applicants who had received an SMS in the previous cycle to collect their SRD R350 grant but never collected, to hurry and do so before the cut-off date of tomorrow, 31 August 2021.  Failing which, the money will revert to National Treasury to fund other projects.

SASSA thanks all applicants for their patience during the first two weeks of opening the system due to the high application volumes.

For additional information relating to the uncollected SRD grants, calls can be directed to the Post Office Call Centre at 0860 111 502 or toll-free to the Postbank at 0800 53 54 55.

 Issued on behalf of SASSA by:

Ms Nandi Mosia

SASSA Spokesperson: Gauteng

Cell: 082 465 7059

Email : Nandim@sassa.gov.za

SHARE THIS