Question NW2545 to the Minister of Social Development
13 October 2023 - NW2545
Herron, Mr BN to ask the Minister of Social Development
(1)What has she found was the estimated turnaround time for which an applicant has to wait for an approval of his or her application for the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant; (2) whether, since the pandemic has been overcome, the SRD grant will be changed into a Basic Income Grant; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
(1). The COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress (cSRD) operates differently to other grants in that applicants are assessed every month to determine if they meet the qualifying criteria. The estimated time a client has to wait each month for his grant to be assessed is 3 weeks or less (depending on the turnaround time for receipt of all databases).
The various databases from other organisations, which are used for the verification of clients are received from the 8th of each month. SASSA is only able to complete the verification process of all clients following receipt of all various databases which is usually by the 3rd week of the specific month. The approved clients are then paid in the following week.
(2). Given the ongoing vulnerability of the beneficiaries to hunger and poverty because of continuing high unemployment and the escalating food prices, the Department is proposing the extension of the cSRD until end of 2025/26 financial year, this will allow the Department to finalize the Basic Income Support (BIS) policy on a more permanent and sustainable intervention. DSD is intending to approach Cabinet to seek approval to publish the draft BIS policy for public comments in the current financial year.