SASSA R350 grant Post Office

HAMMANSKRAAL, SOUTH AFRICA – JULY 06: People queue at South African Post Office at JubiIee Mall during adjusted lockdown level 4 on July 06, 2021 in Hammanskraal, South Africa. It is reported that the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) will remain open during adjusted level 4 and will operate with a reduced staff complement as per the Department of Public Service and Administration circular. (Photo by Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius)

SASSA R350 grant recipients cannot ‘unreasonably refuse’ employment – new rules

A new regulation requires R350 grant beneficiaries ‘not to unreasonably refuse to accept employment or educational opportunities.’

SASSA R350 grant Post Office

HAMMANSKRAAL, SOUTH AFRICA – JULY 06: People queue at South African Post Office at JubiIee Mall during adjusted lockdown level 4 on July 06, 2021 in Hammanskraal, South Africa. It is reported that the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) will remain open during adjusted level 4 and will operate with a reduced staff complement as per the Department of Public Service and Administration circular. (Photo by Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius)

The Social Development department recently gazetted changes to the regulations that govern the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) R350 grant, including raising the income threshold to R624.

On Tuesday, in a briefing to the Select Committee on Health and Social Services, the department delved into the details of some of the new regulations.

READ: More people will now qualify for the R350 SRD grant – Here’s why

SASSA WANTS BENEFICIARIES TO ACCEPT EMPLOYMENT OFFERS

Brandon van Vrede, the DSD’s Chief Director, told the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) committee that a new regulation requires R350 grant beneficiaries “not to unreasonably refuse to accept employment or educational opportunities.”

As previously reported, the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) is in the process of establishing a data-sharing relationship with the Department of Public Works and the Department of Labour. The end goal of this relationship is to help R350 grant beneficiaries gain access to employment opportunities.

READ MORE: SASSA to help R350 grant recipients ‘gain access to employment’

“SASSA is in the process of entering into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Public Works as well as the Employment and Labour to facilitate data sharing and exchanges between the parties,” said van Vrede to the NCOP.

R350 grant recipients will also need to confirm whether they still need the grant every three months, which is another new requirement.

Van Vrede said the change will encourage more engagement between the agency and the grant beneficiary and pick up changes that may have been missed through data checks. “It defaults the client to ‘not requiring the grant’ if they do not re-engage every three months,” he said.

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