How to Successfully Submit Sassa R350 Grant Appeals Under New Rules

How to Successfully Submit Sassa R350 Grant Appeals Under New Rules. The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) administers the R350 Social Relief of Distress grant on behalf of the Department of Social Development. If your application for the R350 grant has been rejected, you can submit an appeal to have your case reviewed. This guide outlines the steps for submitting an appeal under the new rules.

Understanding Sassa and Its Grants

Sassa, the South African Social Security Agency, is responsible for providing social grants to eligible individuals in South Africa. These grants cover various categories, including elderly, disability, child support, foster child, and care dependency grants. Established in 2005, Sassa’s primary goal is to assist vulnerable and needy members of South African society.

The R350 Grant – A Lifeline for the Needy

The R350 grant, also known as the SRD Grant, was introduced to assist individuals with no income or assets. If you qualify, you can receive this grant, amounting to R350 each month.

Addressing the SRD Grant Payment Backlog

Sassa has been processing a significant backlog of SRD grant appeals due to a high volume of initial application rejections. This backlog has necessitated the development of new rules and procedures for appeals.

Always Check Your Sassa Grant Status

To ensure that your application is being processed correctly and that you do not miss out on your grant payment, it is essential to regularly check your Sassa grant status. Although Sassa is generally efficient, occasional issues may arise.

How to Submit an Sassa Appeal for the R350 Grant

If your Sassa grant application has been rejected, you should follow these steps to submit an appeal:

1. Visit the official website at srd.dsd.gov.za.
2. Click on the green bar that says ‘click here to lodge an appeal or check appeal status.’
3. Enter your ID number.
4. Enter your cellphone number.
5. Click ‘send pin’ and wait for the SMS containing the verification pin.
6. Enter the pin and click ‘submit.’
7. Select the month for which you are submitting an appeal.
8. Choose the reason for your appeal from the drop-down menu.
9. Click ‘submit.’

Remember that you must appeal for each month your request was rejected. Appeals are reviewed by an independent tribunal, and you should monitor your appeal’s status.

Understanding the Independent Tribunal Process

The Independent Tribunal, in collaboration with Sassa, investigates and determines if any errors were made in evaluating your grant application, leading to its rejection.

Submission Deadline for Appeals

While it is recommended to submit your appeal within 30 days of receiving a rejection, the absolute deadline is 90 days from the date of rejection notification. Sassa will not accept appeals beyond this deadline.

Monitoring Your Appeal Status

After submitting your appeal to Sassa, it is crucial to keep track of its status. This guide provides comprehensive information on the Sassa appeal process and includes a video explaining the process.

Independent Tribunal Assessment

Previously, appeals for the SRD grant were assessed by Sassa. However, with changes in governing legislation, appeals are now assessed externally by the Independent Tribunal for social assistance in the form of the Sassa SRD grant. This ensures a more impartial review process.