Question NW1853 to the Minister of Social Development
21 September 2020 - NW1853
Ngwenya, Ms DB to ask the Minister of Social Development
The SA Social Security Agency has reported that over 7 million Social Relief of Distress grant applications were received from May 2020 with just over 5 million applications approved and out of the 5 million approved applications, only 4 million applicants have been paid out, by what date will she ensure that all the approved applications are paid out?
Reply:
For the month of May the following represents the applications received and paid:
Many applications and queries were received after the special relief grant was announced, but after all duplicate applications were removed, 6 605 445 applications remained that represented a single, complete application per applicant.
These 6 605 445 applications were all validated against databases such as UIF, NSFAS, IRP-5, National Population Register, Social Grants, and Correctional Services. After reconsideration, 2 180 725 applications were rejected as they were found on the aforementioned databases as provided by the relevant Departments.
SASSA approved 4 424 720 applications to receive the grant.(The just over 5 million approved in the above question is only from June 2020). Clients whose applications failed as the personal information did not match that held by Home Affairs were then requested to correct their personal details (it must be reflected as per the National Population Register) and to provide their banking preferences. Once the clients provided their banking preferences the bank details are verified through National Treasury with the Banks. The delay in providing either updated personal details or banking details delays the payment process.
A number of clients requested their money to be paid into the accounts of other people (family members or spouses). SASSA can only pay into an account which is registered to the client. In an attempt to expedite matters, SASSA requested Post Bank to open accounts for the clients where the account details could not be verified.
Challenges experienced with the provision of banking details include the capturing of incorrect banking details (wrong account numbers, which could be attributed to finger faults or wrong account types). Unfortunately this delays the process of being able to pay the clients.
To date SASSA has paid 4 423 387 clients of the 4 424 720 approved for May. There are currently 1 333 clients who qualify for payment for the month of May which SASSA still needs to pay. The breakdown of this number is as follows:
826 clients who have recently provided SASSA with their banking details are with National Treasury for account verification with the banks.
The 507 remaining clients for May have been sent to a team of SASSA officials who are currently actively assisting these clients to provide SASSA with their banking details and correct personal details. They will be paid as and when the required information has been received and verified.
It is extremely important to note that the number of May applicants who are approved and paid for the grant might still increase as more applicants correct their banking information or even as SASSA proceeds with its reconsideration process. It therefor does not mean that SASSA did not pay all people months later, but should rather be seen as SASSA being able to increase the accessibility to the grant as SASSA assists these clients through reconsideration.
The validation process for every application is redone monthly, to ensure that everyone paid does indeed qualify for the grant.
National AssemblyWritten Reply: 1853 of 2020
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Approved by the Minister of Social Development
Date……………………….