How to Claim SASSA Funeral Benefits. The South African Social Security Agency provides financial assistance to eligible citizens of South Africa so they can meet their basic needs of living. The organization makes sure to take care of the financial need of their eligible candidates even when they die. SASSA has its funeral policy for this purpose.
In this funeral policy, SASSA gives funeral benefits to the legal representatives or next of kin of a deceased person. This guide tells you how to claim SASSA funeral benefits if you’re deserving. Let us look at the details of the SASSA funeral policy and how you can claim the funeral benefits.
In this article, I will guide you through when you are eligible to collect funeral benefits, what documents you will need, and how to process the application to receive that amount within 3 days.
Understanding Funeral Policy
There are different types of funeral policies available for the SASSA grant holders.
1. SASSA Unclaimed Benefits:
If a beneficiary passes away without collecting their grant for the current month, their family might be eligible to claim the unclaimed amount towards funeral expenses. This process involves submitting specific documents and meeting eligibility criteria.
2. Funeral Insurance/Scheme:
The other type is that the beneficiary opted for third-party funeral insurance and authorized deductions from their SASSA grant to contribute towards the policy. Since 2017, SASSA has allowed deductions for approved funeral insurance from Old Age, War Veteran, and Permanent Disability grants, with a maximum of 10% of the grant amount. However, it’s important to remember that:
This article will discuss the first type, “SASSA Unclaimed Benefits”, to claim the unclaimed grant for funeral expenses.
Who is Eligible for SASSA Funeral Benefits and When Can be Claimed
The unclaimed benefits can only be claimed when a beneficiary dies and does not collect the last month’s grant. If they collected the grant of the month they died, you will not be eligible to apply for the unclaimed grant amount. So, it can be only collected:
Please note that the unclaimed benefits can not be collected directly. First, you must call the SASSA toll-free number 0800 60 10 11 to inform them about the SASSA member’s death. The toll-free call center is available weekdays from 8 AM to 4 PM.
If multiple family members paid the funeral amount, then there should be a single invoice showing all the expenses.
Document Requirements to Claim the SASSA Funeral Benefits
SASSA follows the specific criteria and requires some documents to prove that the beneficiary has been passed and you are the real legal representative of the grant holder who spent on the funeral. Once you informed the SASSA about the death of the beneficiary, you will need the following documents to collect the unclaimed benefits:
Once you have all the above documents, you can start the application process to get the unclaimed benefits.
How to Apply for Unclaimed SASSA Funeral Benefits
After gathering all the required documents, you must visit your nearest SASSA office to submit the claim. To apply, follow the below steps:
1. Report the Death
First, you will need to report the beneficiary’s death to the SASSA toll-free call center at 0800 60 10 11. This step is important before proceeding with the claim.
2. Gather the Required Documents:
Gather all the required documents before visiting the office. The required documents are mentioned above in this article.
3. Find and visit your nearest SASSA office
Find your closest SASSA office and confirm their working hours. Most SASSA offices operate between 8 AM to 4 PM from Monday to Friday. Visit the office along with the documents. Once you are at the office, you may face long queues. Stand in the queue and wait for your turn.
4. Submit the Documents to SASSA Representative:
After your turn comes, ask the SASSA official that you are here to apply for unclaimed funeral benefits. The representative will ask you for the documents. Provide them with all the required documents. They will do their initial verification and initiate the process for the complete verification and payment processing.
5. Wait for the Payment:
SASSA will take 24 to 72 hours to complete the verification and process your payment. Please wait for the payment, and if you do not receive any update within 72 hours, then ask for the update by calling the SASSA helpline: 0800 60 10 11.
That’s all you need to apply for the unclaimed benefits. You will soon receive your payment. Just ensure you provide the complete and certified documents to avoid any delays.
What is the Amount of SASSA Funeral Policy?
It’s important to understand that SASSA doesn’t offer an “SASSA Funeral Policy” but the unclaimed grant amount of the deceased beneficiary. There is no exact amount you can claim. You may be eligible to claim the unclaimed grant amount for the month of death up to the amount remaining in the deceased beneficiary’s account.
If the amount exceeds the deceased recipient’s grant amount, you will be paid for the only funds available in the deceased beneficiary’s account. You will not be paid extra if the funeral cost is less than the unclaimed funds.
If the deceased opted for the SASSA deductions for the private funeral insurance company, then the payout amount will depend on the chosen plan and the contributions made. SASSA wouldn’t reimburse the entire cost in any case.
What Time Will It Take to Receive the Payment?
SASSA typically processes the unclaimed grant amount within 24 to 72 hours. But it could be delayed depending on the complexity of your case, the number of applications they are receiving, and their current workload. If you did not receive the payment within 3 days, you can contact the SASSA helpline for an update.
What is SASSA Death Benefits?
SASSA death benefits refer to either SASSA funeral benefits or unclaimed benefits. The process for claiming the unclaimed grant amount of a deceased beneficiary is the same for both. These terms are used interchangeably, so there’s no need for confusion, as this article covers the same concept.