By Staff Reporter
QWAQWA- South Africa Social Security Agency (SASSA) has announced that it will paying out Covid-19 grants on August 25 .
This was announced by Free State spokesperson Motshewa Maleka in a media statement .
“SASSA will meet the Auditor-General (AGSA), on Monday 23 August, to look at the pro-active audit of the R350 grant. SASSA envisages to make the first payments into verified bank accounts from 25 August 2021, which will include most of the caregivers having bank accounts.”
She said for actual payment to be effected, bank accounts of applicants must be verified to provide a true indication of the financial status, ensuring the grant goes to the right person. Of the said total applicants, 76 percent or 6 817 229 have captured their bank account details, while 2 114 146 (24) percent have indicated no bank account details.
However, she appealed to those who will draw their SRD grant at the post office, to await an SMS from SASSA communicating the date that the grant will be ready for collection. This is done to minimise the number of queues at post offices during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Maleka further disclosed that Free State region had a total of 433 258 applications received by 18 August 2021 translating into 188 007 males and 245 251 females. Of the total applicants for the Free State, 86 508 are caregivers while 187 270 are non-caregivers.
She stated that processing of applications received commenced in earnest and continued over the weekend of 21 and 22 August.
“This involves checking details against multiple government data systems for eligibility, before final approval and pay out. Therefore, bearing in mind that applicants must be unemployed and not receiving any other form of financial support or assistance like a social grant on behalf of themselves, not drawing unemployment insurance, must not be a learner supported by family members or student receiving NSFAS. No person contributing to SARS will be eligible,” Maleka added.
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) opened applications for the Special Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress Grant (SRD R350 Grant) on 06 August 2021.
