The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) provides funeral benefits to a deceased family. SASSA is mandated to provide social and financial support to South African citizens to ensure they can achieve the basic standard of living otherwise made impossible due to old age, disability, or others.
How Does SASSA Funeral Policy Work?
What Happens When a SASSA Beneficiary Dies?
If a person benefiting from any of the SASSA grants dies, the agency is mandated to cease making payments to the deceased beneficiary’s account immediately. How swift action to be taken, the beneficiary’s family or next of kin must report the case of the death immediately. The agency will cancel the grant, and the accumulated funds/money will be preserved.
The best scenario here is for the next of kin of the deceased beneficiary or their legal representative to visit any of the SASSA offices and formally report the death. When a physical appearance may be impossible or difficult, the report can be done via physical mail or email. The report won’t be complete without the death certificate of the deceased beneficiary, the next of kin’s/legal representative’s identification documents, and any supporting documents.
Once the report has been done, payments will be stopped and redirected to the legal representative. It is possible to be granted the entire accumulated funds where the deceased beneficiary was the family’s sole breadwinner. The eligibility requirements are strict and dependently assessed based on every situation. So, make sure to exhaust all options to claim the SASSA benefits.
Who Qualifies For Funeral Benefit?
The SASSA policy allows the next of kin or legal representative of a deceased person. According to the SASSA funeral policy, these two are only eligible for receiving funeral benefits.
However, to benefit from the policy specifications, the deceased person must first be eligible so that you can proceed with your fillings. The dead person must have been a recipient of a SASSA grant. This could be Old Age, Care Dependency, or Disability Grant. Once it has been established that the deceased person was a recipient of any of the above, then their next of kin or legal representative can start the process to collect the benefits. It starts with documentation.
How To Claim SASSA Funeral Benefits
We have already explained what happens when a beneficiary dies and who can benefit from the funeral grants in such a situation.
The legal representative or next of kin is eligible to receive any of the following: pension, government grants, insurance, or SASSA grants that the deceased may have been benefiting from or contributed to.
What Documents Are Needed For Funeral Claims?
Claiming the SASSA grants involves formally making a report. This is done by the legal representative or next of kin. The report can only be accepted with the following documents;
1. Death certificate confirming the death
2. The identification documentation of the legal representative or next of kin.
3. Other documentation that may be relevant
The process is quite lengthy and not easy to navigate. Claiming all necessary funds could take a long time and some legal work. Engage legal help where necessary to fast-track the processes and ensure you are also being served to the letter and spirit of the law.
How Much Is SASSA Funeral Policy?
The SASSA has made provisions for the bereaved family to benefit from the grants of their deceased family members in specific situations. To claim the funds, you must report the deceased’s death, and you will be informed if you are eligible to receive the funds. The support is usually limited to a certain period after death.
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) pays a benefit to the tune of R9,000 as funeral benefits. The funeral benefits are paid to the bearer of the financial responsibility for burying the primary beneficiary. The payment is made when the agency receives all necessary documentation of death and identity. In addition to the funeral benefits, SASSA pays a one-time payment of R2,500 as a death award. This amount is strictly to cover funeral costs and aid with arrangements such as transporting the body and administrative costs involved.
How Many Months Does SASSA Pay After Death?
You might be wondering how long it takes for the funeral grant to be paid. Generally, it takes SASSA 24 hours to 72 hours to process and pay funeral benefits. However, the actual time varies.
The processing time for the SASSA to respond to your funeral benefit claims isn’t always the same for every application; it varies from case to case. Factors such as the completeness of your claim application, the agency’s workload, and the claim’s complexity all matter regarding how soon you get the funds.
If you have sent in your application but have not received any payment or feedback, it is right to follow up with the agency. Call them on 0800 601 011 to find out more about your application.
Who Gets The Death Benefit When Someone Dies?
The deceased person’s legal representative or next of kin are the only beneficiaries when a person dies.
