SASSA has managed to implement a new weekly grant calendar effective from 15 January. This should make the lives of pensioners, disabled, and R350 grant beneficiaries. The intention of this new system is to alleviate congestion in the payment process, to enhance the best possible customer service, and to allow customer to plan financially per month something that was not possible with the other systems.
So Why Weekly Grant Calendar Then?
“Payment cycles, being one day, would be processed as daily payments which caused overcrowding at pay points, stress on the system, and added pressure to the staff.” This is a quote by SASSA. In summary, spreading payments throughout the course of a week allows the management to implement greater discipline over payment conduct, fast tracking resolution of payment issues, and ensuring the welfare of beneficiaries who collect or access their monies.
Pension Payments Scheduled First
The old age pension arteriors were given preference over the new calendar from 15 January. The first group set to get their pay was the pensioners. This was in line with protecting the most vulnerable, as per the policy of SASSA. Payments would be done over the first week of the cycle as verification is made and the bank clears such payment.
Follow-On from Disability Grant Payments
Who would be available next for payment was the disabled grant. A follow-up from SASSA showed that once pension monies had been released, disability payments would follow, ensuring continuity for those depending on the grant for their daily supplies and self-treatment needs.
The weekly payments of the R350 SDR will continue.
The R350 SRD grant intrinsic staggered schedules are current. Once approved, payments will be made with no fixed day in the week, depending on batch processes and verification result. For this reason, beneficiaries of the SRD payments should expect different dates on which to finalize payments during the calendar week.
Overview of Weekly Grant Calendar
- WEEK DATED 15 January – Grant Category
- Week 1 -Older People’s Pension
- Week 2 -Lifeline of Disabilities
- Week 3 -Child Support and Care Lines
- Week 4 -Like the R350 SRD Grant, a staggered week is reflected.
How Beneficiaries Get to Know the Exact Payment Date
SASSA maintained that while the weekly payment schedule gives guidance, the dates may not tally very exactly for each person. It is advised that beneficiaries should always check their grant status through the official SASSA site and ensure that banking details and other particulars are correct to avoid unnecessary delays.
We will process all payments as we usually have and therefore, beneficiaries should rely on the method proven to them in respect of divestiture.
All accepted mode of payments still stand for the new calendar. Beneficiaries can get their entitlements through their bank accounts, the SASSA card, or any approved pay points. People who have bank accounts usually get their money faster after the weekly batch has been sent to the bank for payment.
What to Do When Your Grant is Not on Your Statement
Should your grant payment not be made at the agreed time, do not worry, says SASSA because various verifications or system updates might be carried out, causing payments to take longer. Then, the monies would be drawn in the next week following the rectification of the problem without being re-applied for.
Advantages of the Weekly Payment Calendar
With the coming of the weekly pay calendar, there will be less overtime in terms of people waiting in queues, crashing systems, or inevitable delays. The beneficiaries will consequently be able to plan better on when they expect to receive their grants, rather than waiting with uncertainty until the end of the month.
Final Update for Grant Recipients
The SASSA updated a key alteration saying that the release of a weekly schedule for grants come 15 February. This, therefore, helps beneficiaries benefit greatly from their grants either through pensions, or for that matter, disability grants, and not to fail while updating their details during the one week coming.