NATIONAL NEWS - The WhatsApp and related electronic application options for the special COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress grant will go live tomorrow, Monday 11 May.
Minister of Social Development Lindiwe Zulu will present a comprehensive report on the matter to the National Co-ordinating Council today.
The Department of Health used a WhatsApp-platform to test 15 000 applications, which were loaded on the system. All qualifying applications received during the test phase will be processed by 15 May.
Applicants without smart phones will also be able to send an SMS to apply. Volunteers and community development workers will be deployed to assist those who have no access to technology with applications. Manual applications will not be done at Sassa offices at all and there will be no need to fill in paper application forms.
Caution
Applicants are cautioned not to provide their banking details to anyone to avoid scams. Sassa will only request information once the application has been approved. All beneficiaries and applicants should never give their PIN number or the CVV number on the back of the banking card to anyone – not even Sassa.
Once applications are approved, Sassa will request confirmation of bank accounts though a secure site, which will be done electronically. Applicants have the right to request confirmation that a request is from Sassa in order to protect themselves.
Payment
Payment will be made through deposits, directly to an approved applicant’s bank account if they have one. Applicants without bank accounts can also apply and their payment will be made through a money transfer.
Sassa reserves the right to validate the information provided by applicants with other public and private databases to prevent misrepresentation and potential fraud. Applicants will be required to agree with this condition for their applications to be processed.
Opening of offices
The launch date coincides with the reopening of Sassa local offices on Monday. Only a third of employees will return to work and therefore Sassa services on offer will be limited. The numbers of clients served at local offices will be very limited, to ensure social distancing and general compliance with the law.
In order to do this, Sassa local offices will be attending to specific grants on specific days only:
Monday and Tuesday: Grants for older persons (old age grants)
Wednesday and Thursday: Child support grants and foster child grants
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