For those relying on South Africa’s SASSA (South African Social Security Agency) grant program for income support, it’s critical to understand what happens if you don’t withdraw your entire grant payment when it becomes available. This post will look at the policies and processes governing unclaimed or underutilized SASSA grants, including essential concerns such as time limits, account suspension, and restoration.
What is SASSA and the Grant Program?
First, some backstory. SASSA is a government body that provides social subsidies to eligible South African citizens and permanent residents as part of the country’s social safety net. Various grant categories are available depending on age, employment status, handicap status, and income level.
The most prevalent are:
- Old Age Grant: For men and women over 60 who meet income standards.
- Disability Grant: For individuals with mental or physical disability.
- Child Support Grant: For primary caregivers of eligible children.
- Care Dependency Grant: For children with disabilities who need full-time care.
- Foster Child Grant: For foster parents who care for children through the foster care system.
- In addition, SASSA introduced the special COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) Grant in 2020 to assist residents struggling during the epidemic without other sources of income. Known as the “R350 grant,” it offers R350 every month.
Grant amounts vary from R500 to R1,900 per month, depending on the grant kind.
What Happens If You Do Not Withdraw the Full Amount?
If you get a SASSA grant via card or bank deposit but do not take or spend the entire amount when paid, the funds remain in your account for future use. However, the funds must be accessed within 90 days or three months. If there is no activity on the account for 90 days, SASSA will suspend it for possible deactivation. During the 90-day suspension period, grant recipients can request that SASSA reactivate their account and retrieve any outstanding payments. However, if the full 90 days pass without any attempt to reopen the account, SASSA will cancel it entirely, along with any unclaimed funds, which are returned to the National Treasury.
Depending on the sort of grant, you may need to reapply completely. In essence, grant applicants have 90 days to demonstrate some account activity before losing access to the funds and even the grant itself if not addressed swiftly. Even a relatively minor transaction or withdrawal reveals intended usage rather than abandoning the money entirely.
Does unused SASSA money expire?
While accounts can be suspended and deactivated after 90 idle days, monies do not automatically “expire” or disappear. The unused funds remain available to the receiver until actively withdrawn and spent or when SASSA terminates the account. However, because inactive accounts face suspension after 90 days, grant recipients should establish consistent withdrawal and spending patterns for the best results. Leaving massive amounts undisturbed for months on end can endanger future access.
Can I leave unused funds on my SASSA card?
- Unused grant funds can remain on SASSA-issued cards indefinitely if some frequent account activity indicates continuous use. Grant applicants should not feel pressured to spend the entire amount each month.
- SASSA advocates making progressive withdrawals rather than carrying vast amounts of cash, which can be robbed. However, if recipients go over 90 days without a transaction, their card will be suspended.
- So, while untouched money does not “expire,” inactive accounts might result in canceled grants and losing access to those funds after 90 days of no activity.
How Can I Check the Status of Unclaimed SRD Grant Payments?
The COVID-19 SRD Grant functions differently from conventional SASSA awards because it is a temporary relief solution with its requirements. Recipients can verify the status of SRD payments using:
- Visit their nearest SASSA office and provide ID to obtain account information.
- View payment history and details via the SASSA website or mobile app.
- Contacting the SASSA call center at 0800 60 10 11 and establishing identification
Unclaimed SRD monies are reflected as overdue payments payable to the recipient. If an expected payment is missing, it is vital to follow up as soon as possible, as unclaimed monies can be returned to the National Treasury due to the grant program’s temporary nature. In conclusion, SASSA grants provide monthly support to South Africans with qualifying incomes. While recipients are not required to withdraw or spend the entire amount immediately, unused monies left to accrue for more than 90 days might result in account suspension and termination if not resolved.