R350 grant payments are expected to be delayed again
More bad news for struggling South Africans as R350 grant payments are expected to be delayed again
It seems to be a never-ending story when it comes to delays in payment of the R350 Social Relief of Distress grant (SRD)
According to various reports, it looks like there will be another delay in August for South Africans who rely on the welfare deposits
What could be the reason for this delay? Well, it seems that the government has implemented new regulations for the grant
AN INCREASE IN WELFARE
In early August, Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu gazetted changes to the grant regulations.
“I, Lindiwe Zulu, Minister responsible for Social Development, with the concurrence of the Minister of Finance, hereby make amendments to the Regulations relating to Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress as set out in the Schedule
Zulu is calling or asking that the grant amount be increased from R350 to R642 per month. This is in order to align with the food poverty line.
MORE BENEFICIARIES TO RECEIVE THE GRANT
The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) said more people can apply for the grant as regulations have been amended
It said the low number of approved applications for the SRD grant compared to previous iterations was cause for concern for Sassa as well as the Department of Social Development.
Applicants who have an inflow of funds in their bank accounts of less than R624 (for that particular month) qualify to receive the grant with effect from August 2022.
BANK DETAILS
Zulu also said the department was still having challenges with some payments where applicants have not provided banking details.
“We encourage all applicants to provide us with their correct bank details so that we can timeously facilitate their grant payments,” Zulu said
Other Updates Regarding SASSA SRD
SASSASASSA Grant Recipient qualifies for NSFAS 2023-2024
In order to be eligible for the NSFAS bursary, you must meet the following criteria: You must be a South African citizen and plan to study in 2023 or you must be currently enrolled at a university or TVET college.
NSFAS Application qualification Criteria 2023/2024
You may apply if you are a SASSA grant recipient
An annual household income of no more than R350,000 is considered low income
Individuals with disabilities who earn more than R600,000 per year in their combined household income
An undergraduate student whose household income does not exceed R122,000 per year and who begins their university studies before 2018.
Check Sassa Status
Documents Needed for NSFAS Application 2023/2024
In November 2022, the application period for the National Students Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) for the academic year 2023/2024 will open and close on the 30th of November 2022. All those who want to apply for NSFAS online 2023 should visit www.nsfas.org.za. The form can also be downloaded in PDF format.
What are the documents required to apply for NSFAS 2023?
A copy of your ID or birth certificate is required
A copy of your guardian’s, parents’, or spouse’s identification
You will need to provide proof of your income or your IRPS for the past year if necessary
Proof of income is not required for SASSA grant recipients
Please provide a working email address and a valid cellphone number
A Vulnerable Child Declaration and consent form must be completed and signed by students identified by the Department of Social Development as Vulnerable Children
What will NSFAS cover in 2023
Accommodations
The food and meals we consume
The transport sector
The books
Fees for school