SASSA R350 grant: People without IDs can now submit applications

Some good news for those who don’t have the 13-digit South African ID numbers: The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has announced that they are now eligible to receive its R350 special grant.

When submitting their applications, they are expected to use a SASSA system-generated number starting with 7777 as their identification number, the agency said on Friday evening, 17 September 2021.

The move essentially means SASSA is expanding the criteria for people who can receive the relief grant.

Non-ID holders eligible for SASSA R350 grant

People without South African IDs have long been allowed to receive different kinds of grants, including for foster care, children and care dependency. With them now being eligible for the SASSA R350 grant, applications will no doubt soon be streaming in.

“To enable them to apply for social grants, SASSA allocated eligible persons without the 13-digit bar-coded ID numbers, a system-generated quad seven (7777) number to assist them to access social assistance whilst their identification problems are currently being resolved by the national department of Home Affairs,” said SASSA spokesperson Paseka Letsatsi.

So far, more than 10 million have applied for the SASSA R350 special grant, which is aimed at helping the country’s unemployed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“To this end, SASSA is calling  on all eligible beneficiaries who are currently receiving their children’s grants using a system-generated quad seven (7777) identity to apply for the Special COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress Grant using their system generated number allocated by the Agency “

A quick recap: To be eligible for the SASSA R350 grant you need to be:

• South African citizen/permanent residents/refugees/asylum seekers/holders of special permits
• Be unemployed
• Have no alternative source of income or financial support from any other source
• Be between the ages of 18 and 60

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