Over 12 million people applied for the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant in August 2022, which is when the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) received a large number of applications for the program. However, not every single one of these applications will be granted permission to be paid. Applicants who have had their requests for SRD grants rejected have the opportunity to challenge the decision by submitting a request for reconsideration of their SRD grant application.
Individuals can check the status of their request for reconsideration by going to the Sassa Appeals website, entering their ID number and telephone number, and clicking the “Check Status” button.
They can also monitor the status of their appeal by clicking the button that is appropriate. They also have the option of calling the Sassa Call Centre at the number 0800 601 011 to get up-to-date information on the status of their request for reconsideration.
Reconsideration requests are now required to be sent to the Independent Tribunal for Social Assistance Appeals as part of the recently altered process for submitting SRD appeals. This change came about as a result of a recent reform.
Applicants for grants from the SRD who have had their grants declined have the right to submit a request for reconsideration of their grant requests. Sassa has sent out an email to customers who have already submitted a request for reconsideration, informing them that they must continue to submit requests for reconsideration for each month that their application was denied.
Individuals can visit the SRD website to submit an online request for reconsideration by following the prompts to complete the reconsideration process, which includes providing their ID number and mobile number. This can be done by visiting the website.
They also have the option of calling Sassa at the number 0800 60 10 11 and selecting option 3 to speak with a Sassa consultant. This will allow them to submit a request for reconsideration over the phone.
Customers have been informed by Sassa that the company is currently experiencing delays in the reconsideration process, but that they are working to find a solution to the problem as quickly as they can.
Individuals will have access to financial relief for an additional 12 months beyond the original end date of March 2022, as President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that the SRD grant will be extended until March 2023. The grant was originally scheduled to expire in March 2022.
