CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – MAY 12: People with face masks seen at a South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) building on May 12, 2020 in Cape Town, South Africa. The South African goverment announced that a R350 grant to help unemployed people not receiving any form of subsidy or grant during the Covid-19 pandemic would be paid from May to October. It will be open to South Africans, refugees and permanent residents already in the Department of Home Affairs’ system and those residing within the borders of South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images/Nardus Engelbrecht)
According to SASSA, beneficiaries should be able to access their social grants, as well as, the R350 SRD, grant by early January.
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – MAY 12: People with face masks seen at a South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) building on May 12, 2020 in Cape Town, South Africa. The South African goverment announced that a R350 grant to help unemployed people not receiving any form of subsidy or grant during the Covid-19 pandemic would be paid from May to October. It will be open to South Africans, refugees and permanent residents already in the Department of Home Affairs’ system and those residing within the borders of South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images/Nardus Engelbrecht)
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), on Thursday 9 December, confirmed January 2021 payment dates for certain social grants. While the December payment dates have already been issued, SASSA is now one month ahead. The R350 social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant, on the other hand, will continue to be paid for a little while longer but whether a basic income grant will follow is still being discussed.
As many of us now know, the R350 SRD grant was introduced earlier this year to assist the needy amid an unprecedented pandemic. According to SASSA spokesperson Sandy Godlwana, the R350 grant will continue to be paid until the end of January 2021.
“Unlike normal social grants, this grant [R350 grant] is paid monthly provided the client is still unemployed. Checks and balances are done each month to confirm if the applicant is still unemployed,” she said.
“We check and work closely with Sars, Home Affairs, Banks and UIF to confirm first before depositing money,” she added.
According to SASSA, these social grants will be paid on the following dates in January 2021;
Godlwana said the R350 SRD grants are normally paid just after the standard social grants. She said it’s typically paid from the 7th of the month onwards. She added that the above payment dates are applicable throughout the country, however, pay point schedule dates will differ between provinces.
Social grant beneficiaries have also been reminded to be vigilant by keeping their SASSA payment cards and PINs safe and not to share them with anyone. Godlwana said they should also desist from giving strangers or loan sharks their Identity Documents even if they purport to be from SASSA.
“With all the challenges we have faced as a country this year, we have remained resilient. We would like to wish all social grant beneficiaries and their families good health, a peaceful festive season and a prosperous New Year. Let us continue to wear masks and wash our hands to curb the spread of COVID-19,” said Regional Executive Manager in KZN Themba Matlou.