More South Africans Qualify for SRD Grant After Means Test Increased From R350 to R624

More South Africans Qualify for SRD Grant After Means Test Increased From R350 to R624.

SOURCE: BRIEFLY |

_____

• More South Africans now qualify for the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant after the means threshold has been increased
• Minister Lindiwe Zulu increased the means test to R624 in line with the 2021 food poverty line
• The SRD grant was introduced in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic to assist struggling South Africans to cope with the economic consequences of lockdown.

JOHANNESBURG – More South Africans can now receive the R350 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant. The means test threshold to determine who qualifies has been elevated from R350 to R624.

Lindiwe Sisulu, the Minister of Social Development, gazetted the new regulation on Tuesday, 16 August, to increase the income threshold to R624 in accordance with the food poverty line set in September 2021 by Stats SA.

Any South African with a monthly income below R624 can apply to receive the R350 grant from the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa).

The increase comes after there was elevated concern over the income threshold being reduced from R595 to R350. The reduction was made when the national state of disaster was lifted, and the SRD was moved to the Social Assistance Act.

SABC News reported that Black Sash, the human rights advocacy group, has welcomed the increase of the means threshold. Jerome Bele says the organisation appreciates the changes to the regulations because they will greatly impact the lives of the people who need the grant.

According to TimesLIVE, all applicants will undergo a means test to determine eligibility.

Deputy director-general for the Department of Social Development, Brenda Sibeko, said:

“A proxy means test consists of checks against databases that may indicate income or alternative financial assistance and verification of insufficient means with banks.”

Sibeko added that if the information from bank verification doesn’t coincide with information from data checks, then the result from the bank will be used to decide.

Applicants do not need to reapply with each passing month, but the checks will be made monthly to determine eligibility.

The end.

______

You may also check> Latest vacancies at the South African Revenue Service (SARS)

______

If you want to receive more similar opportunities, please join our TELEGRAM GROUP. You may also follow us on TWITTER