Restoration of temporary disability grants
The Minister of Social Development Lindiwe Zulu through directive signed in May 2020 has approved continued payment of temporary disability grants throughout the lockdown period.
From February 2020 until May 2020, a total of 5581 temporary Disability Grants lapsed in Gauteng as a result of beneficiaries whose grants were previously awarded for a temporary period. Due to the lockdown implemented from 26 March 2020. These beneficiaries were unable to conduct their medical re assessments that will allow them to reapply for their Disability Grant, thus their social grants lapsed.
Temporary Disability Grants which lapsed from the month of February 2020 to April 2020 will be reinstated with immediate effect from the date they lapsed. These lapsed cases will be paid with a back payment from the last month in which the grant lapsed.
These temporary Disability Grants will continue to be paid only until October 2020. Disability Grant recipients whose grants expire between now and October 2020 need not visit our offices as their grant will continue to be paid until end of October 2020 without medical assessment. Clients who have been receiving Care Dependency Grant and turned 18 years during the lockdown period will be automatically converted to Disability Grant and do not have to come to the office for assessment.
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) is delighted to announce the reactivation and back payment of all temporary Disability Grants that were lapsed from the month of February 2020 to May 2020. This is in aligning ourselves with the directive. These beneficiaries can check their accounts where they previously received their social grants for the money paid by SASSA today 19 May 2020.
For confirmation they can call 0800 60 10 11 or 011 241 8320. This only applies to Disability Grants beneficiaries whose grants had lapsed from February 2020 to date.
Please note that due to lockdown restrictions access to health facilities is only limited to emergency and COVID -19 related services.
Therefore, SASSA will not be taking any applications that require medical assessments such as Care Dependency and Disability Grants.
SASSA will continue assessing the situation in order to determine when full services will resume through public announcements. This is in the best interest of our beneficiaries, we apologies for the inconvenience caused.
