SASSA Social Relief Grant

Do you want to apply for the SASSA Social Relief Grant. Image: Image: OUTA.

Here’s how many non-SA citizens have applied for the R350 SRD grant

A number of special permit holders from Lesotho, Angola and Zimbabwe have applied for the R350 SRD grant as of June 2022.

SASSA Social Relief Grant

Do you want to apply for the SASSA Social Relief Grant. Image: Image: OUTA.

The Department of Social Development has revealed that over 21 000 non-South African citizens have applied for the R350 SRD grant. 

The Department provided the latest information and statistics on the grant. 

NON-CITIZENS APPLY FOR R350 SRD GRANT 

The Department revealed that as of 30 June 2022 the number of non-citizens who applied for the R350 SRD grant is 21 207. 

The majority are special permit holders from Lesotho at 15 882, followed by asylum seekers at 2133, and special permit holders from Zimbabwe and Angola at 1613 and 1579 respectively.

The Department also revealed that youth under the age of 35 account for 60% of the SRD grant applications, while 40% of the applicants have a grade 12 qualification and 5% a tertiary education.

So far, SASSA has reportedly started paying the June applicants while also back paying the successful reconsiderations from August 2021 onwards. For June 2022 applications, 5 273 000 beneficiaries were approved and  3 729 000 have been paid.

MORE PEOPLE SET TO QUALIFY

More people are set to qualify for the R350 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant following a new proposal on the income threshold for applicants. 

On Thursday 14 July, Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu, published draft regulations to amend some of the criteria for one to qualify for the R350 SRD grant for public comment.

R350 SRD grant
Minister of Social Development Lindiwe Zulu. PHOTO: Flickr

One of the amendments is aimed at removing the clause that places the bank verification process as the main criteria for determining eligibility for the grant which has seen a number of applications declined.

From April 2022, the maximum allowable income was set at R350, however, Zulu has proposed that the income threshold be increased to R624. Before, applications from individuals who received over R350 in their bank accounts in a particular month were declined.

ALSO READ: ICYMI: Proposal to increase R350 SRD grant income threshold to R624