Sassa’s social aid applications are opened. This is how it is applied

Johannesburg – Unemployed people interested in applying for the Covid-19 social aid grant will only qualify if they do not receive other government-provided social grants, said Sassa Chief Executive Busisiwe Memela Khambula.

Memela-Khambula said Monday that Sassa was ready to receive applications for the R350 Relief Social Relief Grant that President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a week ago.

Memela-Khambula and Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu said that when the Sassa pilot project for the social relief grant was launched two weeks ago, of the 100,000 applications received, 50% were from people who have already received some type of government assistance. A total of 57,000 applicants were successful in the pilot phase.

Memela-Khambula said it was important for people to keep in mind that only those who did not receive any form of government assistance would receive an R350 grant. If you received a child grant, NSFAS funds or UIF benefit, your application would be rejected if you applied for the social assistance grant.

Memela Khambula said they were ready to receive requests. The department had previously said that proof of residency was required for the application process, but now it had been changed. Applicants would only have to provide an address.

Memela-Khambula also said that Sassa’s offices will now open as of May 11. She said services would continue to be limited because staff capacity was still 30% due to the pandemic. He said Monday and Tuesday staff would help elderly applicants receive social grants, while child support grants would be processed on Wednesdays and Thursdays.