Question NW820 to the Minister of Social Development
12 August 2020 - NW820
Chirwa, Ms NN to ask the Minister of Social Development
Whether her department’s requirement of a bank account for the R350 SA Social Security Agency social relief of distress grants will disqualify an unemployed person who does not have a bank account from qualifying for such relief; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what will happen to the claims of unemployed persons who do not have a bank account?
Reply:
Having a bank account is not a requirement for an application for the special relief grant. Where an applicant does have a bank account, the benefit, if approved, will be paid directly into his / her bank account.
However, where the applicant does not have a bank account, he /she will receive a money transfer through one of the banks which are supporting SASSA with the implementation of this grant. The applicant will indicate which the most convenient bank is for him / her and the money transfer will be sent to his/her mobile phone, once the necessary checks have been done to ensure that it is indeed a mobile phone belonging to that applicant. The money transfer may then be cashed at the ATM and the funds used as required.