SASSA pays some COVID-19 Grants Double

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has started with double payments for outstanding June and July accounts for the R350 special relief grant this week.

“This meant to avoid a situation where beneficiaries of the COVID-19 grant have to make two trips to the post office and to eradicate the backlog of payments,” said the agency in a statement.

The move was met with much appreciation and excitement on social media.

SASSA also reconsidered applications made in May against updated databases received, which resulted in an additional approximately 1 million applicants being approved for the grant.

This will drastically reduce the number of potential appeals and will also cushion the affected beneficiaries against the current impact of the lockdown.

Payments for June and July have started with transfers into the bank accounts of those who have bank accounts.

Payments for those who receive their money through the post office will be done progressively throughout the month, to try and limit the numbers of people at the post offices on a daily basis.

“Beneficiaries are reminded that they should only visit the post office once they have received an SMS saying their money has been paid in and is ready for collection,” SASSA concluded.