“It must be understood that this is not a review process, but a new application, as temporary disability grants are awarded for a specific period only.”
THE TEMPORARY disability and care dependency grants for children who turned 18 years old during the period from February to December 2020 will lapse on December 31.
The senior manager of communications at the SA Social Security Agency (Sassa), Inno Khunou, said that the Minister of Social Development had extended the temporary disability grant until the end of the year.
“This was done in response to the national state of disaster that made it difficult for beneficiaries to apply for social grants, especially those requiring medical assessments because of the limited access to health facilities,” said Khunou.
She added that beneficiaries of the temporary disability grants who felt that their medical condition still prevented them from working, were advised to approach their nearest Sassa local office from January 5, 2021 to re-apply.
“It must be understood that this is not a review process, but a new application, as temporary disability grants are awarded for a specific period only.”
Khunou added that caregivers of children whose care dependency grants will lapse on December 31 are also requested to approach their local Sassa offices from January 5 to apply for disability grants for young adults.
“Both the above categories of beneficiaries are requested to bring along clinical records pertaining to the medical conditions of applicants when applying.”
She indicated that courtesy letters informing beneficiaries of the lapsing of their social grants had already been posted.
“Affected beneficiaries are requested to respond to these letters as soon as they are able to do so.
“Caregivers of children whose care dependency grants will lapse are not required to bring the children along to the Sassa offices but should come to undertake the application process as the proxy for their children.”
Khunou said that all Covid-19 precautionary measures, including the screening of both clients and Sassa staff, sanitisation, the wearing of masks and social distancing, would continue to be observed at all times.
“Sassa will endeavour to limit the time that applicants have to spend in queues waiting for service, as much as practically possible.”
