What are the Steps to Get 2024 SASSA Funeral Benefits? Required Documents

In South Africa, SASSA Funeral Benefits are a well-liked choice. When a SASSA grant recipient dies, SASSA ceases to pay the award. Grant money may be offered to the family if they cannot pay for the deceased’s funeral expenses.

It may be a beneficial method to support families at a trying time. In some cases, funeral costs can also be covered by SASSA. The family of an individual who got a SASSA grant may be entitled to receive grant funds to cover funeral expenses if the grantee has passed away and has not yet claimed their award. The award funds may only be retrieved by the deceased’s closest family or legal representative.

Recall that family members who are qualified and have applied for a grant are the only ones who may receive grant funds. During a trying time, this gift can assist families in covering the expense of a funeral. Contact SASSA to see if you are eligible for funeral benefits. In addition, I will go over the paperwork requirements and the application process for getting your money back in three days.

Understanding Funeral Policy:

The recipients of SASSA grants can choose from a variety of funeral policies.

1. Unclaimed Benefits from SASSA: If a recipient dies without receiving their award for the current month, their family may be able to apply the unclaimed money to burial costs. Meeting qualifying requirements and providing particular documents are required for this process.
2. Funeral Insurance/Scheme: The beneficiary who chose third-party funeral insurance and permitted deductions from their SASSA grant to be used as a down payment for the policy is the other kind. With a cap of 10% of the award amount, SASSA has permitted deductions for authorized funeral insurance from Old Age, War Veterans, and Permanent Disability benefits since 2017. But it’s crucial to keep in mind that:
3. This “SASSA Funeral Policy” does not exist. It entails selecting and funding a different funeral insurance plan a for-profit provider provides.
4. SASSA does not handle these policies. They are managed by the selected insurance provider, who may occasionally work with local funeral plans or the government’s funeral aid program in South Africa.

The first sort of unclaimed award for funeral expenditures, known as “SASSA Unclaimed Benefits,” will be covered in this article.

Eligible for SASSA Funeral Benefits:

Only in the event of a beneficiary’s death and failure to receive the award for the previous month may the unclaimed benefits be claimed. You won’t be able to apply for the unclaimed grant amount if they received the award for the month they passed away. Therefore, it can only be gathered in:

• If the beneficiary does not receive the grant payment for the previous month.
• Only the beneficiary’s next of kin or legal representative may collect it to pay for the burial.

Please be aware that direct collection of the unclaimed benefits is not possible. Initially, you need to notify the SASSA of the member’s passing by calling their toll-free number, 0800 60 10 11. The weekday hours for the toll-free contact center are 8 AM to 4 PM. If more than one family member paid for the funeral, all the costs should be listed on a single invoice.

Document Requirements to Claim the SASSA Funeral Benefits:

SASSA adheres to strict guidelines and requests specific documentation to verify that you are the legitimate legal agent of the grant holder who paid for the funeral. To obtain the unclaimed benefits after notifying the SASSA of the beneficiary’s death, you will require the following documentation:

• The beneficiary’s death certificate, if applicable.
• ID card of the dead member of SASSA, South Africa.
• Identity card of the family member or agent requesting the amount of the unclaimed award.
• A statement or receipt detailing the whole price paid for the funeral.
• Any further documentation, such as a marriage certificate or birth certificate, proving your tie to the dead beneficiary

You can begin the application procedure to get the unclaimed benefits as soon as you have all the documentation.

How to Apply for Unclaimed SASSA Funeral Benefits?

After assembling the necessary paperwork, you must go to the SASSA office closest to you to file the claim. To apply, take the actions listed below:

• Report the Death: The beneficiary’s death must first be reported to the SASSA’s toll-free hotline at 0800 60 10 11. Before moving further with the claim, this step is crucial.
• Assemble the necessary paperwork: Before you attend the office, ensure you have all the required paperwork. The necessary paperwork is listed in this article’s previous section.
• Find the closest SASSA office and visit them. Verify the working hours of the SASSA office nearest to you. Most SASSA offices are open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 4 PM. Bring the paperwork and stop by the office. There can be lengthy lines when you get to the office. Wait for your turn when standing in line.
• Present the Documents to the SASSA Representative: Inform the SASSA representative that you are here to apply for unclaimed funeral benefits when it is your turn. You will be asked for the papers by the representative. Give them all the necessary paperwork. They will conduct their preliminary verification and start the procedure for finishing the verification and payment.
• Await Payment: It will take SASSA between 24 and 72 hours to finish the payment processing and verification. Please wait for the payment. If, after 72 hours, you still haven’t heard anything, call the SASSA helpdesk at 0800 60 10 11. All you need to do to apply for the unclaimed benefits is to do that.

What is the Funeral Policy Amount for SASSA?

It’s critical to realize that SASSA only provides the unclaimed grant amount of the dead beneficiary—not a “SASSA Funeral Policy.” It is not precise how much you can get back. Up to the amount still in the dead beneficiary’s account, you might be able to claim the unclaimed award amount for the month of the beneficiary’s passing.