Question NW459 to the Minister of Social Development

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08 June 2020 - NW459

Profile picture: Hendricks, Mr MGE

Hendricks, Mr MGE to ask the Minister of Social Development

(1)Whether her department intends to introduce legislation to allow it to continue paying disability grants to beneficiaries who are in the process of renewing their six-months disability grants; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether she will consider ensuring that the pension payout of a deceased pensioner is not terminated in the same month of death or the month after death to assist families to pay the debts incurred on funeral costs or other minor debts left behind by the deceased; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

1. The Ministerial Directive, No. 6(k)(vii) as amended and gazetted on 09 May 2020, states that:

“Temporary disability grants which lapsed in February and March 2020, must be reinstated and continue to be paid from the date they were suspended until end of October 2020; temporary disability grants which did not lapse during April 2020, as contemplated in directive (l)(v) must continue to be paid until end of October 2020; and temporary disability grants which are due to lapse in May 2020 and June 2020, must continue to be paid until end of October 2020”.

The Directive further makes provision for Care Dependency grants which lapsed during the period beginning from February to April 2020 must be reinstated and continue to be paid until end of October 2020; and Care Dependency grants which lapsed during May 2020 or are due to lapse when the care dependent child turns 18 years of age, will not lapse until end of October 2020 and must continue to be paid until end of October 2020.

2. This option at present is not being considered. Most of the elderly have funeral cover for this. What is of concern is that many households are currently depending on the income from the elderly’s grant and are left destitute when the elderly pass on. The COVID-19 pandemic has also perpetuated the problem with more people becoming financially distressed.

To mitigate the impact of the pandemic, the President announced a relief package in the form of a Special COVID -19 Social Relief grant to the value of R350.00 per month to individuals who are: South African Citizens, Permanent Residents or Refugees registered on the Department of Home Affairs database; the applicant should currently be residing within the borders of the Republic of South Africa; be above the age of 18, unemployed; not receiving any form of income; not receiving any social grant; should not be receiving an unemployment insurance benefit and not qualifying to receive one; not receiving a stipend from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme and other financial aid; not receiving any other government COVID-19 response support; and not residing in a government funded or subsidised institution. The benefit came into effect in May 2020 and will be paid to qualifying individuals from date of application until end of October 2020.

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