The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) is an agency of the government that has been supporting needy South Africans financially. It does this by offering grants, among them a Child support grant, disability grant, foster child grant, care dependency grant, older person grant, social relief of distress etc.
During the Covid pandemic, they also introduced a a special COVID-19 Special Relief of Distress Grant.
We have discussed in details who qualifies for each of these SASSA grants on our companion post.
For diverse reasons, one may want to change the payment method or details.
Persons approved for the Covid grant (SRD R350 grant) have now been allowed to change their payment details.
These are the flexibilities SASSA is offering:
* Changing from one payment form to another.
* Moving payments from one bank to another.
* Switching from receiving the payment at the post office to a bank account, and vice versa.
* Choosing a cash option.
Changes to your payment method/option can be made on the SASSA/SRD website.
First time applications, checking application status and cancellations are also done on the same website.
Beneficiaries are also advised to wait for an SMS notification informing them that funds have been disbursed before visiting post offices and other collection points.
How to change your SASSA bank details
1. You will first need to be an approved beneficiary of the SASSA SRD R350 Grant.
2. On the SASSA/SRD website, you will find a form to change your bank details.
3. Start by entering your ID number.
4. An SMS containing a secure and unique link will be sent to the mobile phone number you provided during application (linked to your ID number).
5. Click on the link and follow the instructions carefully.
* Applicants are advised to ensure that the account is in their name, as SASSA cannot disburse money to one person into the account of another. The bank account should also not be closed.
* The same applies to mobile money transfer. Ensure that the mobile phone number to which you received the SMS is registered in your name, as SASSA cannot pay your grant into a mobile phone number which is registered to another person.
Bank account payments are quicker compared to other forms according to SASSA.
As mentioned, the SRD grant is a special Covid relief grant from the government. It disburses R350 per month for 6 months to unemployed individuals who do not receive any other form of social grant or UIF payment.
