sassa r500 2023-2024
sassa r500 2023-2024
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) introduced a new special COVID-19 grant of R500 per month for six months to provide temporary relief to individuals who are unemployed and are not receiving any other form of social grant or unemployment insurance benefit. This grant is commonly referred to as the R500 grant or the SASSA Special Relief of Distress (SRD) grant.
- The R500 grant was initially launched in May 2020 and was supposed to end in October 2020. However, due to the ongoing impact of the pandemic, the grant was extended until April 2021. Beneficiaries who were approved for the grant in the initial phase did not need to reapply for the extension. The R500 grant was paid out monthly and could be accessed via various payment methods such as bank transfers, cash withdrawals at ATMs or merchants, or direct payment into a SASSA card.
- To be eligible for the R500 grant, an applicant must be a South African citizen or permanent resident, be above the age of 18, and not be receiving any other form of income or social grant. The applicant must also be unemployed, not receiving any form of unemployment insurance benefit, and not be a student receiving financial aid from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). Additionally, the applicant must provide proof of identification, proof of residence, and proof of bank account or mobile money account.
- The R500 grant has been a lifeline for many South Africans who have lost their jobs or have had their income reduced due to the pandemic. However, the grant has faced several challenges in its implementation, including delays in processing applications, inconsistencies in the approval process, and difficulties in accessing payments for beneficiaries who do not have bank accounts or mobile money accounts.
- Despite these challenges, SASSA has continued to prioritize the disbursement of the R500 grant to eligible beneficiaries. The agency has also implemented measures to address the challenges faced by beneficiaries, such as providing assistance with opening bank accounts or mobile money accounts, partnering with retailers to facilitate cash withdrawals, and increasing the number of payment points.
- Overall, the R500 grant has been an important form of support for unemployed individuals during the pandemic. SASSA has played a crucial role in its implementation, and although there have been challenges, the agency has worked tirelessly to ensure that eligible beneficiaries receive their payments.
SOCIAL GRANTS
-
Care Dependency Grant
Child Support Grant
Disability Grant
Foster Child Grant
Grant-In-Aid
Older Persons Grant
Social Relief of Distress
War Veterans Grant
Visit the SRD website at
- Email: srd@sassa.gov.za
- USSD: *134*7737#
RELATED LINKS
Click here for more info on SASSA
For more information on Sassa, click here