Why was my SASSA grant declined then approved?

The long answer

An article by Ryan Cloete for SkillsPortal.co.za explains that the Department of Social Development (DSD) announced some changes to the qualifying criteria: 

• They increased the income threshold to R624 from R350 - previously, you could not have received more than R350 in your account to qualify for the R350 grant;

• They removed bank verification as the main way to verify income;

• They removed the need for grant beneficiaries to answer questionnaires every three months to confirm that they still needed the grant.

But as he points out, they could still decline your grant on the following grounds:

• They have identified another source of income;

• That your ID verification failed;

• That you are receiving another SASSA grant;

• That you are registered for NSFAS or for UIF;

• That you are in debt to them until you pay back the grant because you received it but didn’t actually qualify for it;

• That you are registered on a government payroll;

• That you are over 60, so you should be getting the old age pension instead;

• That you are younger than 18;

• That your death was registered at Home Affairs.

If you feel they have made a mistake in declining your grant in future, you must appeal it within 30 days, or it will stand.

Lauren Chawula in a July 2022 article for CareersPortal.co.za explains how to appeal:

1. Visit https://srd.dsd.gov.za/;

2. Click on the green bar that says "click here to lodge an appeal or check appeal status";

3. Enter your ID number;

4. Enter your cellphone number;

5. Click "send pin" and wait for the SMS which will contain the verification pin;

6. Enter the pin and click "submit";

7. Select the month for which you are submitting an appeal;

8. Select the drop-down arrow and choose the reason for your appeal;

9. Click "submit.

Follow these steps and SASSA will reconsider your application. You will need to provide reasons why you should receive the grant too.

Visit the SASSA website to find out if your appeal was successful.

Wishing you the best,
Athalie