Social Relief of Distress Grant: Who qualifies and how to apply

Busisiwe Memela, CEO of the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa), has elaborated on the Social Relief of Distress Grant, expanding upon application criteria and payment systems.

Joining the Minister of Social Development, Lindiwe Zulu, during a much-anticipated media briefing on Monday morning, Memela was called to the podium to elaborate on Sassa’s operational capacity and contingency plans relevant to the payment of social grants during lockdown. Memela briefing coincided with the reopening of local Sassa offices, aimed at assisting vulnerable citizens with the new electronic applications process.

Memela confirmed that Sassa operations would get off to a sluggish start as a result of the overwhelming amount of applications for the Social Relief of Distress Grant. Memela added that offices would operate with reduced staff numbers and would implement stringent sanitary and social distancing protocols.

How to apply for the R350 Social Relief of Distress Grant

This comes as Sassa prepares to launch an electronic application system, aimed at reducing human contact and streamlining processes associated with the new Social Relief of Distress Grant. Sassa revealed that the email and WhatsApp systems were ready to be rolled out, noting the prospective beneficiaries could:

• Send a WhatsApp message to 082 046 8553
• Send an email to SRD@sassa.gov.za
• SMS/USSD: *134*7737#

Those without access to the internet or smartphones could visit a local Sassa branch for assistance, noting the following daily services:

• Monday and Tuesday: Old Age Grants
• Wednesday and Thursday: Child Support Grants and Foster Care Grants
• Friday: Administration for staff to attend to matters that flow over from previous days

Who qualifies for the Social Relief of Distress Grant

Memela expanded on the criteria applicable to those who qualify for the Social Relief of Distress Grant. To qualify for the R350 grant, applicants must be:

• Above the age of 18
• Unemployed
• Not receiving any income
• Not receiving any social grant
• Not receiving any unemployment insurance benefit and does not qualify to receive unemployment insurance benefits
• Not receiving a stipend from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme
• Not a resident in a government funded or subsidised institution

You’ll need to provide Sassa with…

The electronic application process, which is expected to be finessed in the coming days, will require prospective beneficiaries to supply Sassa with their:

• Identity Number
• Name and Surname as captured in the ID (and initials)
• Gender and Disability
• Banking details – Bank Name and Account Number
• Contact details – Cell phone number
• Residential address

Memela added that while the application process would not require a ‘proof of residence’ document, as was earlier the case, a residential address would still need to be logged. Memela noted:

“We don’t need a proof of residential address but we need your residential address so that we can get a sense as to how many people are applying within one particular homestead.”

WhatsApp and SMS line

Memela elaborated on the methods of application for the Social Relief of Distress Grant, saying:

“The new WhatsApp line will be 082 046 8553 – we are no longer using the old line which we used which was part of the health line… we now have a Sassa line, specifically designed for this particular grant.”

Memela added that those without smartphones could use the SMS method as follows:

“Because we know that not everybody has a smartphone, for those phones one can also be able to apply. We have a USSD line, or what we always refer to as an SMS line, which means you’ll have to type in *134*7737#”