No need to re-apply for these SASSA grants

No re-applications are required for beneficiaries of the temporary disability grants that were initially supposed to lapse from February 2020 but were extended to 31 December 2020 in order to cushion affected beneficiaries against the pressures brought about by the state of national disaster and the subsequent lockdown.

According to Sassa, 21 615 beneficiaries were affected in the province of which 5 031 resort under the Capricorn District. Of those, 519 fall are at the Polokwane local office, with 683 at Seshego and 1 318 at Mankweng.

Sassa Spokesperson Norman Kutama says the cost of continuing to pay these grants in 2020 was in excess of R1,5 billion and to have continued payment of the grants until end March 2021 would have cost an additional R1,2 billion, which is simply not available. A disability grant may be awarded as either a permanent grant, which may or may not be subject to a medical review after a certain period of time.

Permanent disability grants are awarded for conditions which impact on the applicant’s ability to work for a period longer than 12 months. “Where the disability or medical condition is likely to improve with treatment or other interventions, the grant may be awarded for a temporary period of between six and 12 months. After this time, the grant lapses in accordance with the conditions set in the Social Assistance Act, 2004. If, on lapsing of the grant, the citizen is still unable to be employed as a result of the disability or medical condition, he/she needs to be re-assessed for the grant.”

This requires a new medical assessment, which will confirm whether the condition does warrant a grant.

Kutama emphasised that this is not re-application and the outcome only takes a day on which a beneficiary is booked for re-assessment.

“Beneficiaries who have been affected by the lapsing of the temporary disability grants have all been notified and given dates on when to visit their assessment centres.”

This is done in order to fight fraud during assessments of grants.

The agency appointed 53 doctors to verify such medical information.

He says it is important for any applicant to be aware that, if the grant is awarded for a temporary period, or not approved, he or she has the right to request Sassa to reconsider the decision.

“This must be done within 90 days of being informed of the outcome of the application. If the reconsidered decision is still unfavorable, then the applicant has the right to appeal to the Independent Appeals Tribunal.”

Sassa acknowledged the inconvenience caused by the suspension of the temporary grants, but said compliance to the legislation and cost implications informed the decision.