SASSA Appeal for SRD R350 Grant - Turn Rejection into Approval

The South African Social Security Agency, or SASSA, provides financial aid for needy people to ensure development and share the financial burden of low-income families. After applying for any SASSA grant, applicants must wait to see if their application has been accepted or declined. If your application has been approved, then you can get your payment on your respective payday.

But suppose your application for any SASSA grant, such as SRD R350 reapplication, a child support grant, or an old age grant, has been rejected for some reason, and you think your application was declined wrongly. In that case, you can appeal to SASSA’s Independent Tribunal for Social Assistance Appeals (ITSAA) for reconsideration within 30 days after you get notified about the application.
SASSA gives everyone an equal opportunity to appeal if their application has been declined. You can appeal for your SASSA grant online using the following method:

Visit the SASSA official website.
Click on the green bar that says, “Click here to lodge an appeal status”
Enter your 14-digit ID number and the cell phone number you used on your application.
Click “Send PIN.”
You’ll receive a verification SMS on your registered cell phone number.
Enter the PIN into the required section.
You’ll then see the list of records of all your applications for each month. Find the application that was declined, and for whom you want to appeal.
After you’ve selected the month, you need to provide your appeal statement. Remember that the appeal statement must contain a valid reason why you believe your application was unfairly declined.
Upload the necessary documents as evidence to strengthen your case. These documents include:

Bank statements for the previous six months
Proof of residence
Documents that prove your identity

Double-check all the documents and information you entered and click “Submit”
You will receive a confirmation message on your registered cell phone number.

SASSA appeals for reconsideration through the SASSA Office

People who cannot submit their applications online can appeal for reconsideration through the SASSA office. If you’re looking to submit your appeal through the SASSA office, you need to do the following things:

SASSA appeal for reconsideration through the SASSA Office — SASSA appeals for reconsideration through the SASSA Office

First, you need to gather all the necessary documents. These documents include:

Copy of your initial SASSA application.
Your ID card.
Proof of residence.
Your Income statement
A copy of your grant rejection letter.
Your medical reports if you have any medical conditions or disabilities.
A detailed letter explaining your reasons for appeal and why you believe you are eligible for the grant.

Go to your nearest SASSA office. The SASSA offices are open from 8:00 AM to 4:00 AM, Monday to Friday.
Get a SASSA appeal form. Fill out the form with your up-to-date, accurate information. Briefly explain a valid reason for requesting reconsideration. You should attach all supporting documents to make your case stronger.
Submit the form along with the documents and get your receipt.
Keep the receipt safe, as it has your reference number and may be used in the future.

How long do you have to wait after the appeal?

After you have submitted your appeal, you will have to wait for 60 to 90 days for SASSA to decide the result of your appeal. If your appeal is approved, you will be notified via SMS. Then you can collect your grant funds through your desired mode of payment.

Applying for multiple months:

If your application was declined for more than one month, then you have to apply separately for each month. One appeal is only for one month. Submit the appeal as described above for each month separately.

Methods of Checking Appeal Status

After submitting the appeal, applicants must keep track of their application to ensure timely payments. You can do it by checking your SASSA Status regularly. You can check your SASSA appeal status easily by the following methods:

Through a phone call

You can track your appeal status through a phone call by:

Call the official SASSA toll-free number 0800 601 011.
Provide your ID number
Provide your appeal reference number (if available).
The SASSA representative will update you on your appeal status.

Through SASSA Website

Visit the SASSA SRD Appeals page at srd.sassa.gov.za
Log into your account.
Click “Track Appeal Status.”
Enter your ID number and press “Search.”
Find the month you appealed for and click “View Details.”
You’ll see your appeal’s current status and estimated processing timeline.

From the SASSA office

Visit your nearest SASSA office.
Provide all of your documentation including your ID number and appeal reference number.
The SASSA representative will tell you about your Appeal status.

Through WhatsApp

Save the SASSA official WhatsApp number 0820468553 in your phone contacts.
Open your WhatsApp.
Open a new chat.
Type your registered Name, Surname, and South African ID number, and send the message.
Follow the prompts.
You will then get to know your Appeal Status.

SASSA Appeal outcomes

When you appeal SASSA for reconsideration and submit your application, your application can have multiple outcomes. Let’s see what these outcomes are and what they mean.

Approved

It means your application was reconsidered and your reason was valid and acceptable, and SASSA has approved you for the grant. You just now have to change your banking details if you have a personal bank account or you can select other modes of payment. You will now receive the payments and get them on your payday through your desired mode of payment.

Declined

It means that your appeal application has been declined and the former decision by SASSA remains unchanged. You will not get your grant payments as you have not been selected for the grant.

Pending

It means that your application is under review and SASSA needs more time to make the decision. You will be notified soon about the final decision. Also, note that SASSA can also ask you for additional documents. If SASSA requires any additional documents, then submit them as soon as possible. This can also occur due to the high volume of applications.

Reasons for Declined Appeal

The reasons why your appeal was declined are:

The personal information you provided in your application did not match the record of the Department of Home Affairs database
You’re already receiving another SASSA grant.
Your age does not meet the eligibility criteria for the respective grant you applied for.
You are registered with the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) or Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) and receive funds from them.
Youincomeme is more than R595 a month.
You’re a government employee receiving a monthly salary.
The South African Fraud Prevention Services has registered you as a perpetrator of fraud.
You have submitted duplicate applications.
You have not provided complete personal information.
There were some technical issues, such as an SASSA system failure or online glitches, etc. while submitting your application.

Why should you Appeal?

If your initial grant application was declined, you can appeal to SASSA. There are multiple reasons why one should appeal to SASSA. The most common of them are:

The initial information you provided was inaccurate or incomplete, and it caused your application to be declined. Now, to correct the previous information, you should appeal.
You did not provide enough evidence or supporting documents in your initial grant that prove that you are eligible for the grant. But now, with more relatable and strong evidence, you should appeal again.
It can also happen that all the information you provided was correct but there was an administrative mistake by SASSA during the data entry or updating of your information in the system. You should appeal to correct that error.
When you applied for the grant, your circumstances were good. But now your circumstances have worsened, and you’re eligible for the grant. So, you should appeal to SASSA to approve your grant.
You forgot to mention your medical condition or disability in your previous application. You should appeal to add these to your application and to prove that you are eligible for the grant.

Always Remember

Before appealing to SASSA, you should take care of the following things:

You must have a notification from SASSA informing you of your application being declined.
You Must disagree with the SASSA decision and must believe and have evidence that you’re eligible for the grant.
You must submit your appeal within 30 to 90 days.
Always provide as many additional documents as you can that can make your case strong.
Keep SASSA updated on your personal information. If you have changed your phone number, you should also change your SASSA phone number.
Patience is the key. Most applicants have their appeals approved, resulting in payment.
Keep your personal information up-to-date.
During the appeal process, keep a record of all the submissions, as this documentation can prove crucial in the future.
Seek assistance from your local community centers for more guidance on the SASSA appeal.
Regularly check the official website of SASSA as SASSA often updates its guidelines and procedures.

What to do if your appeal gets declined?

If your appeal for the SASSA grant was declined, unfortunately, you cannot reapply for an appeal. In this case, the only thing you can do is to take the matter to the High Court for a judicial review. You should follow this path only if you strongly believe that you’re eligible for the grant and you desperately need the grant payment.

The SASSA appeal process is a crucial process that requires patience, resilience, determination, and a complete understanding of the system. By using the resources available, keeping your information up-to-date, and seeking assistance from the right places, you can increase your chances of your appeal being approved. Always remember that your appeal also helps the SASSA understand the challenges faced by the applicants and helps them improve the system.