SASSA R350 Grant Stopped: What’s going on?
You are a satisfied beneficiary of SASSA Grant R350 and have great relief, but rumors are spreading about the SASSA R350 Grant stop. Will this be the end of respite offered to the needy people? No! That’s not the end of the road!
The SASSA R350 Grant is a funding program that intends to aid the people of South Africa affected by floods or the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a helpful allowance, enabling them to fulfill their basic needs and access the necessary services.
So, if you are searching for the latest news on the SASSA R350 grant stopped, we have covered you in this chaos.
What is happening to SASSA Grant R350?
Nowadays, news is spreading that people will no longer be able to get assistance from this program. The reason behind the news is that the Government of South Africa announced once that they are planning to stop the SASSA R350 Grant being offered to the flood-affected people by March 2023.
However, their Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana gave a wave of delight to the audience during a budget talk that the grant will not be stopped. In contrast, a whole new year has been added between the beneficiaries and the grant stoppage, i.e., March 2024.
Each month, around 18 billion grant is distributed among the vulnerable South Africans. The government takes an excellent relief step as many individuals rely entirely on this grant to meet their basic needs and benefit from necessary services.
However, accessing these conveniences will only be possible if the grant is stopped for some reason.
Why the SASSA R350 Grant is stopped?
The agency responsible for paying the grant has stated many reasons why the SASSA beneficiaries will no longer be able to get the grant in the future. Some of the reasons include:
- Suspension of a grant
- Review of a grant
- Lapsing of a grant
1. Grant Suspension
There are various grounds for suspending a grant. A change in the recipients’ circumstances is a recurring subject among these justifications. Grant recipients are required to make sure Sassa is made aware of any changes to their situation.
A change in their condition may include a change in the marital status of the recipient, a change of the home address they have provided to SASSA, or a change in their financial position.
If the individual fails to inform SASSA regarding any of these changes, SASSA will stop any further payment of the grant to that beneficiary.
If someone receives a Child Support Grant, they will no longer be eligible for the grant if the child is no longer in their care.
A grant may be suspended if necessary paperwork is not submitted, fraud is committed, or false information is provided.
2. Grant Review
If SASSA suspects any change in the beneficiary’s circumstances, it also holds the right to suspend or review the grant. To apply for a grant, the beneficiary needs to provide some information as support, including documents like scaling their income.
Any change in the information provided at the time of application may result in a beneficiary falling in ineligibility criteria. As a result, the SASSA may ask for some legitimate documents like a life certificate referring to proof of life.
Otherwise, an electric interface may be used to confirm that the person is alive.
3. Grant Lapsing
SASSA reserves the right to stop any further grant if a grant lapses. How does a grant lapse? A grant usually lapses if the person doesn’t collect his grant even after the extended period ends, generally up to three months consecutively.
The person may have left the country, or there is any change in the beneficiary’s health status.
If the beneficiary dies, the grant is also stopped in this case. Similar is the case with the Child Support Grant. The grant is stopped even if the child for whom the grant is being received turns 18.
How do we solve this grant lapsing issue?
If a grant is stopped for failing to collect for more than three months in a row or failing to submit for review, an application for its restoration must be submitted within 30 days after suspension.
A New Phase with some Alterations
There were a few adjustments to SASSA grants that took effect on April 23, 2023, with the commencement of this new phase:
- Previous recipients were needed to reapply.
- The Grant was moved under a new law, SSA (Social Assistance Act).
Now that more persons who met the requirements could apply, the R350 grant’s eligibility was expanded.
Conclusion
According to a drafted regulation change, the SRD award will expire in March 2024, even though its value and beneficiary base have declined dramatically. By the Social Assistance Act, the Department of Social Development (DSD) is modifying the regulations governing the COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant.
So, the Grant has not stopped but extended to March 2024. Let’s stay in touch and see what happens in the future together!
FAQs
Is the SASSA R350 still going to continue?
The R350 Grant will be continued for a further two years by the Social Development Department. The COVID-19 pandemic-era funding has now been extended through March 2024.
Is R350 still available for November 2023?
Even though attention is frequently focused on long-term social grants, the R350 grant is still an option in November 2023.