The SRD grant, administrated by the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), may not have been approved for several reasons. These reasons could range from incorrect or incomplete information provided during the application, to the agency’s determination that the applicant doesn’t meet the eligibility criteria. However, irrespective of the reasons for the rejection, if you feel the outcome is not justified, you have the right to appeal the decision.
For submitting an appeal against the SASSA R350 SRD Grant decision, it’s crucial to act promptly within a 30-day window from the date you received your rejection notification. The appeal process is executed through the Department of Social Development’s (DSD) Independent Tribunal Website. Access to the appeals portal can be obtained via this link.
Before you commence the appeal process, it’s essential to confirm the accuracy and completeness of the details you initially submitted to SASSA. This verification can be carried out on the SRD DSD Appeal Electronic Platform, which displays the information you provided during your grant application.
An essential part of this process is to ensure your contact information is accurate and up-to-date. This is crucial because, should your appeal be successful, payment will be processed using these contact details. To update your contact information, navigate to this link.
The appeal submission process involves the following steps:
- Visit the website srd.dsd.gov.za and identify the green bar marked “click here to lodge an appeal or check appeal status”. Click on this bar to proceed.
- In the fields provided, enter your ID Number and the phone number you used when submitting your application. Once entered, click on the “send pin” button.
- You will receive a pin on your mobile phone. Enter this pin into the relevant field and click “submit” to lodge your appeal.
- Once submitted, your appeal will undergo a review process by the Independent Tribunal. This process typically takes between 60 – 90 days from the date of appeal submission. Given the ongoing Covid-19 situation, SASSA reassesses and dispenses the SRD grant on a monthly basis to verify the continued need of the recipient.
Hence, a separate appeal must be submitted for each month where a person’s application is rejected by SASSA.
Applicants are advised to file their appeals as soon as possible after receiving their rejection notification from SASSA.
It’s important to remember that the decision of the Independent Tribunal is specific to the month in which the appeal was filed.
Checking the status of your appeal involves a similar process:
- Visit the SRD website and locate the “Lodging an Appeal” section.
- Follow the provided link to the DSD appeals website.
- Click on the green bar labelled, “Click here to lodge an appeal or check appeal status”.
- Enter your ID number and the phone number that you used when applying for the grant.
- Click on the “send pin” button and wait for a verification code to be sent to your mobile via SMS.
- After receiving the verification code, enter it into the appropriate field and submit your request.
- Select the month for which you would like to check the status of the R350 grant.
- Once submitted, the appeal status will be shown. This status will indicate whether the appeal has been approved, declined, or is still under consideration.
Please be aware that the Independent Tribunal’s ruling is final, with no subsequent internal appeals allowed.
However, the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act of 2000 provides you the right to lodge an appeal with the High Court for a judicial review. This right must be exercised within 180 days from the date of the Independent Tribunal’s judgment.
If you need further assistance or clarification regarding the appeal process, the Department of Social Development’s Independent Tribunal for Social Assistance Appeals (ITSAA) can be contacted. You can reach them via telephone at 012 312 7727 or email at grantappeals@dsd.gov.za. They can provide guidance and support throughout the appeal process.
