Lapsed disability grants to be extended

The Minister of Social Development, Lindiwe Zulu,  yesterday announced measures aimed at improving her department’s risk-adjusted response to the Covid-19 pandemic during lockdown level four.

With regard to regulations on the extension of lapsed disability grants, regulations have been published giving effect to the extension of temporary disability grants from the date they were suspended until the end of October this year. This extension applies to all temporary disability grants that lapsed between February and March.

In cases where the temporary disability grants were suspended, these will be reinstated and paid until the end of October. The same applies to the care dependency and foster child grants that are due to lapse during the lockdown period. The payment of these reinstated grants will take place before the end of May.

“We hope this extension will give persons with disabilities some peace of mind in the midst of this deadly pandemic,” the minister said.

Temporary disability grants which did not lapse during April 2020, must continue to be paid until end of October 2020. Temporary disability grants due to lapse in May 2020 and June 2020 must continue to be paid until end of October 2020. Care dependency and foster care grants which lapsed during the period beginning from February 2020 to April 2020 must be reinstated and continue to be paid until end of October 2020, she added, saying care dependency and foster care grants which lapsed during May 2020 or are due to lapse when the care dependent child turns 18 years of age, will not lapse until the end of October 2020 and must continue to be paid until end of October 2020.

Top-up amounts will be paid in accordance with the prescripts of these directions and payments will follow the usual grant payment mechanisms requiring no additional application processes.  A special Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress for caregivers of R500 per month per child support grant caregiver will be provided. All existing caregivers will automatically qualify and receive this benefit along with their existing monthly benefit.

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