On Sunday, the 25th of July, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the government would be reinstating the COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress grant. This announcement has been welcomed across the country, as many South Africans struggle with unemployment and dire conditions that have only been worsened by the pandemic.
SASSA R350 Grant Status
Although President Cyril Ramaphosa announced these changes, there was still some confusion about the grant and how this round would be handled, which Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu clarified on the 4th of August.
How To Check The SASSA R350 Grant Status+ Other Frequently Asked Questions
Now that the R350 COVID-19 grant is available, there are more questions about who is eligible, how to check the status of your R350 COVID grant application, and what happens to uncollected money from the previous COVID grant. We answer all these questions below to provide clarity on what you should do next.
How Do I Check The SASSA R350 Grant Status?
There are three ways to check your SASSA R350 Grant Status: online, via WhatsApp and via phone.
Online:
- Begin by visiting the SRD website and scrolling to the “check my application button,” alternatively, click here.
- Fill in your ID number and the number you used to complete the application. You will be sent a pin to your phone number, which you must enter on the next screen.
- You will then be redirected to a screen that displays details about your application, whether it’s still processing, has been approved or has been declined.
WhatsApp:
- Contact the SRD team on WhatsApp by using the 082 046 8553 number.
- Enter your ID number and your phone number.
- They will guide you through the next steps.
Phone:
- Call 0800 60 10 11 and follow the voice prompts, or type in *134*7737# into your phone and follow the prompts.
If I Received The R350 Grant Until April 2021, Do I Need To Reapply?
Yes.
To reduce fraud cases and prevent those receiving other assistance from benefiting from the SRD grant, anyone who wants to receive the newly reinstated COVID grant needs to reapply, even if they’ve received it before. The application is simple and can be completed online or via WhatsApp.
How Long Will It Take To Get Feedback on My Application?
After submitting all of your information, like your ID number and phone, SASSA – who will be managing the payment of the grant – needs to verify that the information you provided is correct.
SASSA needs to check your eligibility to determine if you don’t receive any other form of income. This may mean checking your details on SARS, the banks, and other institutions like NSFAS; this means you could wait up to two weeks to get a response.
Who Is Eligible For The New COVID-19 R350 Grant?
The grant, which would be available from August 2021 to March 2022, is available to more recipients. Unlike before, this round of the COVID-19 R350 relief grants is available to other grant recipients, including those receiving a child care grant.
However, those receiving grants for themselves, those under 18 and over 60, those receiving UIF or a stipend from NSFAS, in addition to those living in government-funded institutions are still ineligible for the COVID-19 social relief of distress grant.
Can I Appeal A Declined SASSA R350 Grant Status?
Yes. If you think your application for the R350 COVID grant has been incorrectly declined, you need to visit the Social Relief of Distress Website. You need to scroll to “Application for Reconsideration” and click on the button to apply for reconsideration.
You can also appeal your application declining if you didn’t make any money in the month preceding your request to have your declined status overturned.
When you click on the button to reconsider your R350 COVID grant status, you will be prompted to enter your ID and cell phone numbers. You will then be sent a pin to your cell phone number, which you will need to enter to continue your request.
I Never Collected My R350 Grant Before. Can I Still Collect It?
If you applied to the previous allocation of the R350 SRD grant that expired on the 30th of April 2021, you still have until the 31st of August 2021 to collect any outstanding grant payment. However, from the 1st of September 2021, you will no longer have access to the funds as the money will be returned to the government.
Many people hope that the R350 grant remains for the millions of unemployed South Africans struggling to make ends meet every month. The Social Relief of Distress Grant has provided much-needed help to those during this time and could assist unemployed citizens even after the pandemic. But only time will tell if the government decides to make the SASSA R350 COVID grant permanent.