Looking for the latest news about r350 grant 2023? SASSA has been providing a lifeline to millions of South Africans through its various grants, including the temporary COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant of R350 per month. The grant was initially introduced in 2020 to provide financial support to those who had lost their income due to the pandemic. However, it has been extended several times since then, and the latest news on SASSA r350 grant in 2023 has been eagerly awaited by many South Africans.
In this article, I will provide you with the latest news on SASSA r350 grant and what it means for the millions of beneficiaries who rely on it.
Overview of SASSA srd grant’s history
Extension
On October 26th, 2022, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced that the South African government will extend the Social Relief of Distress grant for an additional year. This means that the R350 SRD Grant, will now be available until March 2024. This extension will provide continued financial support to those who have been struggling to make ends meet due to the ongoing pandemic and its economic impact.
New Screening Process
The Department of Social Development has introduced a new screening questionnaire for the R350 grant application process. Applicants must now provide personal information including their ID number, banking details, and answer two new questions related to their work history and other sources of income. These changes aim to improve candidate screening and ensure the grant is provided to those who need it most.
Read also: SASSA R350 Grant Payment Dates
Amendment To R350 Grant Regulations
The Department of Social Development recently announced that out of 11.4 million applicants in June 2022, only 5.2 million were approved for the SRD grant. The department has proposed three key amendments to improve the application process.
Firstly, the maximum allowable income will increase from R350 to R624. Secondly, the requirement for applicants to confirm their need for the grant every three months will be removed. Finally, the bank verification process will no longer be the main criteria for determining eligibility. Applicants who were declined are reminded to submit an appeal for each month and to lodge it directly with the Appeals Tribunal.
Latest news on SASSA r350 grant 2023
Scandalous Discovery: Public Employees Caught Requesting SASSA R350 Grant
Over 100 public servants have been implicated in a corruption scheme to steal money meant for South Africa’s poor. According to Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu, almost 178,000 public servants have been unlawfully benefiting from social grants, including those working for President Cyril Ramaphosa, Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, the National Treasury, and law enforcement agencies.
Zulu said that employees of the SAPS, the National Prosecuting Authority, the Public Service Commission, the National School of Government, and several national and provincial government departments were identified as recipients of the social grants. The government introduced the R350 per month social relief of distress (SRD) grant in May 2020 to counter the economic challenges resulting from the tough lockdown policies following the Covid-19 pandemic.
In total, the beneficiaries of social grants employed by the government work across 45 national government departments and entities, including the Civilian Secretariat for Police and Statistics South Africa. The recipients were also found in 117 provincial government departments and entities across all nine provinces.
Zulu stated that 3,268 public servants were found not to qualify for social grants after a review process was conducted. She said that an amount of R12.6 million had been recovered from public servants who were found not to qualify for the grant they received.
The Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) has warned that civil servants receiving any form of income from the government do not qualify for the SRD grant and may not apply for it. The department said that this amounts to fraud as people who do not qualify to receive the SRD grant include public servants on the persal system, those on internship, the government’s expanded public works programme, learnership, or any developmental programme who receive a form of stipend from the state.
Threshold
The minimum income level to qualify for the R350 social relief grant has been increased from R350 to R624. Previously, applicants with a monthly income of R350 or more from other sources were not eligible for the grant, but now the cut-off has been raised to R624.
According to Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu, the increase is in line with the estimated Food Poverty Line for 2022. She also mentioned that they may need to consider further adjustments to the threshold in order to allow more people to qualify for the benefit.
Is R350 grant increased to R700?
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) issued a warning advising people not to apply for a supposed new “R700 grant” that has been advertised on social media. SASSA stated that the posts promoting the grant are fake, and the agency does not provide such a grant.
SASSA has cautioned people not to share their personal information, as it may be used for fraudulent activities. They have also urged their beneficiaries not to disclose their ID numbers to strangers.
SASSA said, “Please be aware of the following fake news. SASSA does not offer such a grant. We urge our beneficiaries to protect their personal information. Do not share your ID numbers with strangers.”
Recommended: How to Reapply for SASSA SRD Grant
Conclusion
The R350 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant has been beneficial in helping many households purchase food since the COVID-19 pandemic. However, despite the increase in food prices, the grant amount has not been adjusted.
Unfortunately, there have been instances of fake news circulating on social media regarding SASSA grants. Specifically, information regarding the non-existent SASSA R700 grant is being shared. People are trying to apply for the R700 grant, but SASSA does not offer such a program.
It is important to exercise caution and not trust posts regarding SASSA grants unless they come from verified SASSA sources.
