Question NW1067 to the Minister of Social Development
20 July 2020 - NW1067
van der Merwe, Ms LL to ask the Minister of Social Development
What total number of (a) applications for the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant (i) has her department received to date, (ii)(aa) have been rejected and (bb) are still pending due to incomplete paperwork and (iii) were approved and (b) applicants have received their SRD grants to date?
Reply:
(a)(i) As at 15 June 2020, SASSA had received a total of 6 926 748 complete applications for the special relief grant.
(ii)(aa) A total of 3 277 660 have been rejected
(bb) A total of 1 048 380 are still being processed. All applications received are electronic, so no paperwork or supporting documents are required. The processing which is undertaken is the verification of the information against the multiple databases to ensure that the applicant is not in receipt of income from a social grant, UIF. NSFAS, a salary or a pension.
(iii) A total of 3 258 000 have been approved.
(b) A total of 1 095 090 have been paid as at 15 June 2020.
The difference between the number approved and those already paid is that there are various steps after approval before payment can take place. Applicants are only asked for bank details once the application is approved. Once the bank details are received, the correctness is verified by the banks before deposits can be effected, to ensure that the money goes to the right person. For clients who do not have bank accounts currently the payment is sent to the Post Office. Once the Post Office has opened the account, the applicants are sent notifications to collect their grants at specified Post Offices closer to their residential areas. SASSA will introduce money transfer to mobile numbers as soon as the contracts with banks are signed.