Unclaimed SASSA Grants. In this article, I will discuss what happens if you fail to collect your SASSA grant on time. I will cover when you need to collect your grant, how long funds stay in your SASSA account, tips to keep your account active and avoid cancellation, the procedure for reinstatement if your account is suspended, and much more.
Reasons for Unclaimed SASSA Grants
You will probably think at first that if someone has applied for the SASSA grant, they are in dire need, and it is impossible for them to miss the grant payment collection. That is absolutely right, but this doesn’t happen intentionally. Most of the time, it happens unintentionally due to various reasons, and most of the time, the grant recipients are unaware of it.
The most common reasons that caused the unclaimed SASSA grants are the following:
Lack of Awareness
Many beneficiaries are unaware of how to check their payment dates using the SASSA status check system. So, when they do not receive notification of their payment dates, they don’t collect their grants, considering that they have not been paid for the current month.
To avoid this, check your SASSA status regularly to ensure you get all your payment dates.
Missed Notifications
Grant payments are sometimes missed because recipients do not receive notifications about payment dates on time or unintentionally miss the notification. This mostly happens to the SASSA SRD grant recipient, as all the other grant payments are paid on fixed payment dates.
To prevent this, you must not miss any notification from SASSA and always keep an eye on the communications from SASSA.
Physical Barriers to Grant Collection Points
Some beneficiaries have difficulty reaching SASSA grant collection points due to geographical distance, a lack of transportation, or physical disabilities. In remote and rural areas, where outreach services are few or infrequent, it becomes difficult for beneficiaries to collect their grants in person.
So, you must change your SASSA payment method to Bank to always receive your grant money directly in your bank account, and you will have much more flexibility in collecting your grant amount with ease from any nearby bank ATM.
These are only a few reasons for unclaimed grants. Many other reasons unintentionally prevent beneficiaries from collecting their grant payments on time.
Understanding the Different SASSA Grants
SASSA, the Social Security Agency in South Africa provides diverse grants to those who are eligible either as individuals or families. The common grants include the following:
- Older Person’s Grant: This grant gives financial support to people over the age of 60 who can pass the means test.
- Child Support Grant: This Caregiver grant is intended for guardians of children under 18 years old.
- Disability Grant: It is the opportunity that provide financial aid to people with disabilities.
- Social Relief of Distress (SRD) Grant: This kind of aid is meant to help persons who experience financial hardships for a short period because of unexpected events.
The Claiming Process of Sassa Grants
SASSA grants are typically paid out through two main methods:
- Bank Deposits: You can receive your grant in your bank account linked with Sassa. A text message will notify you about funds loading.
- SASSA Cards: SASSA has special cards for people who don’t have bank accounts. These services function in the same way as bank cards. These also serve as ATMs.
It’s crucial to claim the full amount of your grant as soon as it’s deposited or made available on your SASSA card. While the money remains in your account (card or bank) even if not claimed immediately.
What is a Lapsing Period?
SASSA has its deadlines for the application of grants, usually 3 months. In the case where you fail to withdraw your grant before that time, it will be considered suspended. This implies that, until you undertake the steps of reactivation, you will not be able to access the account.
How Can You Restore a Lapsed Sassa Grant?
You need to act quickly to restore a lapsed Sassa grant. Restoring a lapsed SASSA grant requires swift action. Generally, you have just 90 days from the lapse date to apply. To apply you need to prepare your key documents like a letter from SASSA explaining the lapse and anything that justifies why you couldn’t claim the grant.
Now head to your nearest SASSA office or call their toll-free line (0800 60 10 11, weekdays 8 am-4 pm). SASSA representatives can guide you through the application and answer questions. You may have to go through an assessment (e.g., a doctor’s re-evaluation for disability grants) to confirm your eligibility.
Remember, a valid reason for the lapse and complete documentation are crucial for a successful restoration.
What Happens If You Do Not Collect Your Grant Payment on Time?
When you do not collect your grant money for 90 consecutive days, i.e., three months, SASSA will lapse your social grant due to inactivity in your account. However, SASSA provides a 3-month window to reinstate your suspended grant application. If you also fail to request reinstatement, SASSA completely closes your account, and all the grant funds in your account are forfeited and returned to the National Treasury.
So, if you want to avoid the suspension of your grant, you must not leave it inactive upto 90 days and should withdraw your grant amount within this period.
After SASSA cancels your grant, and you want to get the grant again, you will need to apply from the start by submitting a new grant application.
What Happens If I Don’t Withdraw the Full Amount?
It is not necessary to withdraw the total grant amount always. SASSA itself recommends its beneficiaries withdraw only the amount they need at the time. The remaining balance stays secure in your bank account.
The only requirement is that you should not keep your account inactive for up to 90 days. You must perform any transaction, even if it is small. You can always keep the remaining amount in your account and withdraw it only when needed.
Is there an Expiry Date for Unused SASSA Funds?
No, there is no expiry date for unused SASSA money. It remains secure in your account until it is used. It only expires if you don’t make any transaction from your account for 90 days. That time, SASSA suspends your account, but your money remains in your account until the next 90 days, and you can collect it by reinstating your SASSA grant.
If you do not reinstate your grant within 90 days, the money will expire and return to the National Treasury.
What I need to do to Avoid Grant Cancellation?
If you want to avoid your grant cancellation, you must collect your grants on time. Here are some tips that help you avoid grant suspension:
By following these practices and collecting your grant on time, you will never face any issues with your grants due to inactivity.
How do I Reinstate My SASSA Grant If It Lapses?
If your grant has lapsed due to inactivity, you can quickly reinstate it within the next 90 days. You can do this online or by visiting the SASSA office in person.
I prefer the online method, as it can be completed in just a few minutes without going anywhere. But you may have different preferences so that I will guide you through both processes, and you can follow whatever is easier for you.
Before starting the reinstatement process, you must have the following essentials:
Reinstating Your Suspended SASSA Grant Online Via SASSA Website
Please follow these steps to reinstate your suspended SASSA grant online:
Your request has been submitted, and you’ll await a decision from SASSA. SASSA takes at least 7 to 14 business days to make a decision on a reinstatement request. However, the time can vary depending on the workload.
Reinstate Your Suspended SASSA Grant By Visiting the SASSA Office
If you prefer to reinstate your grant in person by visiting the SASSA office, then you must first find your nearest SASSA office and confirm their working hours. Most offices typically operate from Monday to Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
Once you have confirmed your nearest office and their timings, then follow these steps:
That’s it. Now, you will need to wait for SASSA’s decision. They may take 7 to 14 business days to review your reinstatement request.
Checking the Status of Your Unclaimed SRD Grant Payments
If you did not collect your grant for a more extended period and want to check its status to confirm if the funds are available or the grant has been lapsed, you can check its status by following ways:
You can quickly check the status of your unclaimed grant using one of these options. I prefer to use online methods, as they are the easiest and can be done within a minute from the comfort of my home.