sassa 625 2024-2025

sassa 625 2024-2025

In August, just under 12 million people applied for the Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant, according to the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa).

This comes as a result of the Department of Social Development publishing amended regulations that included raising the income threshold for the means test from R350 to R625.

As a result, applicants who have deposited less than R624 into their bank accounts for that month are eligible to receive the grant beginning in August 2022.

After the Department of Social Development and Sassa was concerned about the low number of Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) applications that were approved, regulations were revised.

Sassa stated that some of the regulations were also the subject of public outcry because they were deemed to be illegal and to unfairly exclude some potential applicants.

“Sassa welcomes this new development, and the agency is hopeful that a greater number of qualifying applicants will now have access to this grant.”

Due to the previous regulations requiring people to reconfirm their grants every three months, the agency experienced slight delays and difficulties with assessments for July 2022. As a result, fewer people confirmed their grants again. However, the July assessments will soon be finished because of the publication of the new regulations.

“Some applicants have not provided us with their banking information, so we are still having difficulties with some payments. According to Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu, “We encourage all applicants to provide us with their correct bank details so that we can facilitate their grant payments promptly.”

Sassa mentioned that the Covid-19 SRD’s monthly payment remains at R350 per person for each qualifying month.

The government has put in place additional checks and balances in addition to raising the income threshold to ensure that those who are eligible for the grant are given it over those who are not.

In a presentation to Parliament, the Department of Social Developments’ chief director, Brenton van Vrede, stated that a new clause has been added to the regulations requiring clients not to “unreasonably refuse” to accept job or educational opportunities when presented.