Why Are Some Covid-19 SRD Grant Applications Declined?

The South African Social Security Agency has stepped forward to help people affected by COVID-19. For this purpose, SASSA is providing a Special COVID-19 350 Social Relief of Distress Grant. The agency has targeted this grant for unemployed people with no income. To get this grant, you have to fill out the application form available on the website of SASSA but many applicants’ SRD grant applications declined. You can find out in the content, what to do, if your application for a grant is declined by Sassa.

After submitting the application, to know whether the agency has approved it or not, you have to check sassa status of your application. You can check the status through the website of SASSA SRD, the USSD helpline number, or the Moya app. SASSA will verify your application in almost 90 days. 

If the agency approves your application, you will get payments soon. If SASSA rejects your application, they will tell you the reason for rejection through a letter. 

To know why SASSA rejects a COVID-19 350 social relief of Distress Grant application, read the article ahead.

Why SASSA Rejects Your Application For Special COVID-19 Grant?

SASSA has experienced many rejected applications, especially for the COVID-19 grant. According to the agency’s database, they reject 50% of applications because of qualifications criteria. The agency rejected around 4 million applications. 80% of the applications were qualified after appealing for reconsideration. The agency has decided to review declined applications for COVID-19 grants to find the bottom-line reason for rejection.

SASSA Media Release: SASSA Declines Un-qualifying COVID-19 Grant Applications #SASSACARES @The_DSD @GCISMedia pic.twitter.com/CcbLlxW5jK

— SASSA (@OfficialSASSA) June 18, 2020

SASSA reviewed the declined applications. They got to know that more than 80% of COVID-19 grant-rejected applications actually qualify for the criteria. To solve the problem, SASSA has sent a message to all qualified people. All applicants must respond to their message to receive payments. This was a technical fault in the database of the agency. 

Now, SASSA has solved this problem. The agency has also made some amendments to the qualifications criteria. CEO of SASSA said that these changes would clarify qualifying criteria. Many applications which SASSA declined previously are approved now. SASSA also started to send payments to them. Although many applications are approved some applications remain unapproved. This is because of some other reasons.

What Are The Reasons For Which SASSA Rejects Your COVID-19 Applications?

These are some reasons for which SASSA can reject your applications.

• Any alternative source of income found.

The agency will reject your application if payments coming to your bank account exceed the specified threshold. There are different amounts specified for different periods of time. Like R350 is fixed for April 2022 till July 2022, and R624 is fixed for August 2022 till March 2023.

•  Identity verification failed.

SASSA will reject your application if the personal information you gave at the time of application does not match the data that the department of Home Affairs sent to SASSA.

•  Member of any other SASSA grant.

If you are a member of the SASSA COVID-19 grant or any other grant, then SASSA will reject your application.

• Identified as an existing member of NSFAS.

The agency your COVID-19 grant if you are in receipt of the National Students Financial Aid Scheme at the time of applying.

• Found to be employed.

SASSA will reject your applications if you are employed in any government Job

• Aged above 60.

The agency will not approve your application if you are 60 or above 60 years old. There is a separate Old Age Grant for people aged above 60

• Aged below 18.

SASSA will disapprove your application if you are below 18 years old. There is a separate grant for children.

• UIF registered.

The agency will reject your application if SASSA finds you registered in UIF.

• Fraud application.

SASSA will reject your application if your application is found fraudulent.

• Defined as fraud

The agency will reject your application if South African Fraud Prevention Services proves you as a fraud.

If you still think that your application is valid and SASSA rejected your application on irrelevant grounds, don’t worry. You can file a reconsideration appeal for your application.

How to File an Appeal For Your SASSA SRD 350 Application?

You will be able to file an appeal for your SASSA SRD application if you follow the steps we have provided below.

• Visit the website of SASSA SRD.
• Tap the button which states, “Click Here to Lodge an Appeal or Check the Appeal Status.”
• Type your ID number.
• Then input your mobile phone number.
• Click on the button ‘Send Pin.’
• SASSA will send you an OTP pin.
• Input the pin in the box.
• You will see the number of options on your screen. Choose the appropriate option which matches the reason for the rejection of your application. You can see the reason in the letter that SASSA sent you.
• Tap the submit button. Your application will develop into reconsideration. 

SASSA will verify your appeal in 7 days. After seven days, you can check the reconsideration status through the SASSA website, SASSA Whatsapp number, or the Moya app.