NATIONAL NEWS - The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has decided to reconsider Covid-19 grant applications that had been rejected. Sassa spokesperson Paseka Letsatsi said in a press release on Tuesday that they will get to the bottom of the reasons for rejections.
"The high numbers involved raised questions and we decided that it would be wise to reconsider these before subjecting them to an appeal process, which comes at a cost and resultant delays."
He said in early June, close to 50% of processed applications did not qualify in terms of the criteria. Over 70% of those that did not qualify were either receiving or qualifying for UIF benefits, according to the database that Sassa was using at the time to sift through the applications.
They decided to request an updated database to reconsider the declined UIF cases instead of advising the aggrieved applicants to follow the appeals route.
Out of this reconsideration process it emerged that 85% of the UIF cases that were previously deemed not to be qualifying, do actually qualify. These have now been approved.
Applicants are being informed of this development individually as and when such favourable decision is reached. "Everyone affected will receive an SMS requesting them to provide their banking details. It is important to respond to the SMS as quickly as possible and to follow the link provided. Approved applicants are reminded that the link cannot be shared with others, as it is linked to a specific ID number for security reasons."
Letsatsie said over 2,5 million of the more than 3,2 million applicants have been paid so far. Totsie Memela, Sassa CEO, said, "Updating the UIF database has brought such a relief to us and the affected beneficiaries, the numbers will rise daily until we have paid all deserving individuals who were previously declined".
She said Sassa is working with the Department of Social Development to finalise the modalities of the appeals process for applicants who still feel that their applications were rejected unfairly.
The appeals function will be added to the website as soon as the relevant framework has been approved.
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