The Social Development Department has outlined which social grants will be extended until the end of 2020.
Legislation has been signed off by minister Lindiwe Zulu, allowing two social grants to be extended. These include the temporary disability grant and the temporary care dependency grants.
Below lists who qualifies for the incentive:
- SASSA will reassess some decisions, taking into consideration the reasons provided in applications for reassessment.
- Going forward, temporary disability grants that lapsed in July, or were due to lapse between August – October 2020, have been extended until 31 December this year.
- Care dependency grants that were extended to October, or were due to lapse between November – December 2020, have been extended until 31 December this year.
- There will be no ‘October lapses’ for the aforementioned recipients.
“Care dependency grants, which were extended to October 2020 under the Directions published in the Government Notice of 9 May 2020, and care dependency grants that will lapse during the months of November to December, will not lapse in October 2020, but will continue to be paid until 31 December 2020.”
In an interview this week the Minister suggested that the SRD grant could become a permanent fixture in the country. When asked about the discussions about whether the country should have a Basic Income Grant the Minister explained that the discussions have gone 'quite far'.
Minister Zulu explained that the issue had been raised with the ANC as it was a matter of policy and that her Department was looking for 'better support and sustainable support moving to the future'.
While recognising the budgetary constraints the country currently has, the Minister said, "when all is said and done we still do believe that South African has the capacity - just being creative and working and finding better solutions."
"There is a strong belief and a strong support for the Basic Income Grant but there are due processes that need to be taken through".
The Basic Income Grant is proposed to be provided to people between the ages of 18 and 59. "People who usually find themselves falling between the cracks," said Zulu.
"I'm excited about this but I know that its not going to be an easy road - mainly because of the financial constraints. The biggest challenge is where we will get the money for that!" said Zulu.
Estimates are that up to 33 million South Africans could qualify for this grant if it becomes permanent. This would mean that the BIG could cost the country between R30-50 billion each year.
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