SASSA calls on beneficiaries to collect their R350 grants
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has admitted that about 490 000 Special COVID-19 SRD grants that remain approved and paid are uncollected.
This is despite the agency sending messages to clients to collect their grant funds.
In particular, the uncollected grants referred to are those approved and paid since August 2021.
“Where the Special SRD grant has already been paid through the South African Post Office (SAPO) and messages sent to clients, a client cannot request for the money to be re-directed to another bank, but this must be collected from SAPO. Clients who have failed bank verification will receive a message from SASSA requesting them to upload their correct personal bank details, to expedite payment,” said Gauteng SASSA’s spokesperson, Nandi Mosia.
According to the agency, there are many reasons contributing to a client not receiving payment when their grant is approved.
These may be because a client captured banking details that differ from that of their bank, be it name and surname and or account number. Some clients applied using a friend or relative’s cellphone and not the one registered (RICA) on their names. When SASSA sends a payment notification to that cellphone, the owner fails to relay the information, or the owner has changed the number or lost the cellphone that was used to apply.
Similarly, if a client had chosen the ‘cash/send’ payment option, they are advised to visit the SASSA website at www.sassa.gov.za and select the option ‘How do I change my banking details’ to change to personal banking details. This method will expedite payment of unpaid grants. Failing to upload bank details means they will be paid through the post office as a last mitigation to the unforeseen delay.
“Special SRD grant clients wishing to reinstate their previously cancelled grant due to change in living status, may visit the above website and select the option ‘reinstate my cancelled application’,” added Mosia.
SASSA requests all applicants to provide outstanding information whenever requested, to enable SASSA to finalise payments expeditiously.