When you first apply for a SASSA grant, there is a lengthy process which you must go through. This includes SASSA verifying the information you provide. Once the SASSA grant is approved, it moves on to paying you out the money you are due. There can be a delay between these two statuses. While it may be frustrating if you are in financial need, delays are not uncommon and often have a logical reason. Today we look at some common questions about the SASSA payment
Why Is SASSA Money Approved But No Payment?
If you have seen your SASSA Money, whether a grant or the SRD/R350 grant, is approved, but you have not been paid yet, don’t immediately panic. During the SASSA application process, a number of statuses will be applied to show you at what point your application currently is.
‘Approved’ means that you are eligible to receive the grant and that all required documentation and checks have been done. It does not mean the money has been released (yet). You should look out for a ‘payment pending’ and then ‘paid’ status to know that money has actually been issued to you. Only if the status ticks over to ‘paid’ without receiving your money should you worry. You can monitor payment status through the website or app or by using their USSD service. You can also call the hotline if you have concerns or visit a SASSA office.
What Can I Do If My SRD Grant Is Approved But No Payment?
As with normal SASSA grants, having your SRD Grant moved to approved does not always mean the payment has been released yet. If your SRD Grant is approved, but you have no payment, this is the most common cause for the delay. Give it a few days for them to process the payment. You can (and should) check the status of your SRD grant payment on the SASSA SRD website. Log in to your account and check the payment status of your grant. If the payment has actually been processed, you will see the payment date and the amount paid noted. If the payment has not been processed, you may need to wait a little longer.
If the payment shows as processed and you still haven’t received it, then you should get in touch with SASSA through one of their communication channels. You can use the hotline or send an email. You should also check your bank details and check there were no errors on the application, although these issues are typically picked up earlier in the application process.
How Long Does SASSA Take To Pay After Approval?
The time it takes for SASSA to pay after approval can vary depending on a variety of factors, from the grant type to the volume of payments being processed at the time. SASSA aims to pay approved applications within a maximum of three months from the date of application, and you will sometimes receive back payments to the date of application, depending on the grant type.
If you have applied for the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant, commonly called the R350 Grant, the payment process is faster as it is intended to be a temporary grant only. SASSA aims to pay SRD grant applicants within 10 working days from the date of approval.
If you have any questions or concerns about your application or payment, you can contact SASSA customer service for assistance.
How Long Does It Take For SASSA To Pay After Updating Banking Details?
If you update your banking details with SASSA for any reason, regardless of the channel you use to submit the request, they will have to re-verify those details. As this requires liaising with your bank and possibly the Reserve Bank, there is no set time frame for this check. Typically it will take 7-10 working days, but can be delayed by the bank itself if they are slow to respond and other factors outside of SASSA’s control. If you need to update your banking details, we advise you to do it as soon as possible to avoid any delays or mistakes in processing your payment. Otherwise, you may miss a month’s payment, or it could be sent to the wrong account.
How Do I Check If My SASSA Money Is In?
If you need to check if your SASSA Money is received, you can use these channels:
- Online: You can check your payment status by logging into your account on the SASSA website or the SRD specific website for the R350 grant. Here you can view your payment history and check if your SASSA money has been paid.
- Telephone: You can contact the SASSA Helpline at 0800 60 10 11 and follow the prompts to check the status of your payment. You will need to provide your ID number and other personal details for verification purposes, so have them on-hand.
- USSD: Dial *120*3210# and follow the prompts to check your SASSA balance on your phone and if payments were received.
- Banking: If the amount is paid directly into your bank account, you can simply check your banking app or statement.
It’s a good idea to check your payment status regularly to ensure that you receive your payment. SASSA processes an immense amount of payments every month, so the possibility of error is always there. The sooner you detect an issue, the sooner you can work on resolving it. If you have any questions or concerns about your payment status, you can always contact SASSA’s hotline or stop by a SASSA office for further assistance.
