SASSA Distress Grant

SASSA Distress Grant is another name for the Social Relief of Distress grant. The South African Social Security Agency introduced this grant to help assist people who were affected in their finances as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This grant was a temporal measure to ensure that people did not get into distress as a result of job losses or financial difficulty.

People who can apply for this grant are South African citizens, permanent residents and people who are refugees in South Africa. In this write up, we shall explore all about this grant. Who is eligible to apply for it? What are the requirements for it? What is the application process for the SASSA Distress Grant?

As you follow these steps, you should be able to apply and become a recipient of the grant. Do know that this was meant to be a temporal scheme. Due to the number of people who were affected, it is possible that the agency will continue to offer this grant for a long time.

Who is Eligible SASSA Distress Grant?

It is not automatic that when you apply for the grant, you will become a beneficiary. It is therefore very important to be sure that you qualify before you apply. Once you check for what is needed for eligibility and you are sure you qualify, you can start your application. Here is a shortlist of the requirements for the 350 SASSA Grant. You must meet the following requirements:

• You must be a permanent resident in South Africa, or must be a citizen of South Africa.
• You must be at least 18 years of age
• You should be earning less that the minimum wage or have no source of income or financial support
• You should not be on any other grant or any other form of social or unemployment insurance
• You should not have applied for or received the SASSA R350 grant before
• Once you meet all of the requirements listed, you can continue with your application process.

How to Apply for SASSA Distress Grant

There are several ways to apply for the SASSA Social Relief Grant. Follow the instructions below to apply for the SASSA Social Relief Grant. Choose the method that best suits you.

• First open the official site of the SASSA online:
• Look for the “R350 grant” link on the homepage and click on it.
• If this is the first time you are applying for the grant, you will have to register first.
• You register by supplying some details about yourself: These include your name, your ID number, your telephone number and your residential address
• After registration, an SMS will be sent to your number with your username and password.
• Now, with the username and password given you, you can now log into your account
• Go ahead and fill in the application form now by supplying the requested information such as your personal details, your bank details, and contact information.
• Upon completing the form online, click on the “submit” button
• Waiting patiently for a confirmation message

You can always check the status of your application by logging in to your account and clicking on the “check status” button.

To apply via WhatsApp, follow these instructions:

• First, save the SASSA WhatsApp number (082 046 8553) to your contacts
• Then, send a message to the number that says “Hi” or “Hello”
• Once you do, you will receive a prompt for your application
• Follow this prompt to complete your application
• Now, give your banking details where you can receive your assistance.
• If you don’t have a bank account, select “cash payment option”

After you submit your application, you will receive a reference number via WhatsApp that you can use to check the status of your application.

To apply via USSD;

Dial1347737# from your phone, you will receive prompts and you have to follow these prompts to finish up your application process.

What do you need to apply for the SASSA Social Relief Grant?

Below are the documents that you need to have before you apply for the Social Relief of Distress grant. Make sure you have them ready before you begin the application process.

• Identification documents, such as an ID book or passport
• Proof of income, such as a pay slip or bank statement
• Proof of residence, such as a utility bill or lease agreement
• Details of their emergency or disaster situation

Once the application has been submitted, it will be reviewed by SASSA officials, who will assess the applicant’s eligibility for the grant. If the application is approved, the grant amount will be paid directly to the applicant’s bank account.

Conclusion:

The SASSA has served permanent residents and citizens of South Africa since the year 2005 and they have done their work excellently. Once you qualify and have what it takes to apply, do go ahead. You must make sure that the information you are giving is correct and up to date. If you should provide any false information, your application will not be considered. Since the Social Relief of Distress was introduced as a temporal measure, be sure to always find out about its current status from the SASSA office or website.