The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has been providing a Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant of R350 per month to eligible individuals who have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. While the grant has been a lifeline for millions of South Africans, the application process has not been without its challenges. One of the biggest issues has been the delay in approving applications due to inaccurate or incomplete banking details provided by applicants.
Accurate banking details are essential for SASSA to pay out the grant money to eligible applicants. However, many applicants have been submitting incorrect or incomplete banking details, resulting in delays in the processing of their applications. Here are some of the possible reasons why this has been happening:
1. Not submitting accurate banking details: Many applicants have been providing incorrect bank account numbers or incorrect branch codes. This can result in the grant money being paid into the wrong account, which can cause further delays in getting the money to the correct recipient.
2. Banking details verification delays from the partner bank: SASSA has partnered with a number of banks to verify the banking details of applicants. However, due to the high volume of applications, some banks have been experiencing delays in verifying the details. This has resulted in delays in the processing of applications.
3. Using Cash Send (Ewallet) account which is not registered in the applicant’s name: Some applicants have been using Cash Send accounts that are not registered in their own name. This can lead to delays in the processing of applications as SASSA needs to verify that the account belongs to the applicant before making any payments.
It is crucial for applicants to ensure that they provide accurate and complete banking details when submitting their applications. This will help to ensure that the processing of their applications is not delayed. It is also important to note that SASSA will only pay the grant money into a bank account that is registered in the applicant’s name.
In order to avoid delays in the processing of their applications, applicants should take the following steps:
- Double-check banking details before submitting: Applicants should ensure that they double-check their bank account numbers and branch codes before submitting their applications.
- Use a registered phone number in case they want to receive through Cash Send: Applicants should ensure that the Ewallet account they provide is registered in their own name. This will help to avoid any delays in the processing of their applications. SASSA has recently advised applicants to even submit their personal banking details to the system for convenience.
- Be patient: Due to the high volume of applications, processing times may be longer than expected. Applicants should be patient and wait for their applications to be processed.
Accurate banking details are crucial when applying for the SASSA SRD grant. Applicants should ensure that they provide correct and complete banking details to avoid delays in the processing of their applications. By taking these simple steps, applicants can help to ensure that they receive their grant money in a timely manner.