The South African Social Security Agent on Monday launched an online grant application portal. According to a statement released, social grant applicants will be able to apply for certain social grants online. The pilot project will cover Child Support, Older Persons, and Foster Child grants.
In a media statement, SASSA said this should be a relief to grant applicants as it will save them the inconvenience of standing in queues at SASSA offices in order to apply for their grants.
According to SASSA, the added advantage is that the convenience of online applications eliminates the risk of being infected with the COVID-19 virus because there will be no need to gather at public places in order to apply. This remote self-service will be possible on both a computer and a mobile phone. The turnaround time is 10 days, provided the applicant supplies all the stipulated documents such as identity documents of applicant and spouse as well as banking details among others.
This will enable access to the following SASSA services:
Applications for grants for Foster child grant, Older persons grant and Child Support grant
Online submission of the required supporting documentation linked to the application;
Change of circumstances (Payment method, banking details, address);
Status of application
To access this service, applicants need to have an email address to sign up and to be able to log in for further services. Feedback to applicants will be sent through SMS notification to applicants with no email addresses and an email response will be sent to applicants choosing to be contacted by email. A receipt will be generated when the application is completed.
The testing of the system will run from 14 September 2020 till 25 September 2020
