Picture: The Citizen
Grant recipients appealing their social relief status have a slim chance of success according to recent adjudication results.
The Department of Social Development (DSD) stated earlier this week that their new validation process has led to around 2% of the roughly 10 million appeals being approved.
The appeals relate to the Social Relief Distress (SRD) grant of R350 introduced during the global health scare of 2020. The amount has since increased to R370 per month since 1 April 2024.
The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) and the DSD only approved roughly 112,000 appeals in the last financial year.
Sassa recently established a fraud and corruption unit which is tasked with improving the integrity of the benefits system.
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The focus of the reviews and appeals test the recipient’s eligibility, as defined by the regulations during 2020’s implementation of the Disaster Management Act.
The initial application process is fully automated, but Sassa and DSD have improved their record authentication capabilities.
“Our enhanced and comprehensive data validation process has led to the detection and exclusion of many applicants or appellants,” explained John Mokoele, director of social assistance appeals at DSD.
“Most appellants now realise that even appealing may not yield positive results as we are conducting appropriate checks and balances”, he added
DSD and Sassa have a tribunal comprising independent professionals from outside the two responsible entities.
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These tribunal panellists are responsible for adjudicating both regular social grant appeals and SRD R370 appeals.
To lodge an appeal, Sassa beneficiaries must:
Should the SMS notification not be received, the appeal status can be checked after 90 days.
To send a query directly to DSD, call 012 312 7727 or email grantappeals@dsd.gov.za
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