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John and his team will be following the progress and distribution of the R124 million to be given to the SA Social Security Agency.
The department says this money is a temporary provision intended for people who are in such a dire material need they are unable to meet their families most basic needs. This relief may be in the form of a food parcel or a voucher to buy food. People need to apply for this at their nearest Social Security office with their ID document. You also need to prove that you are in dire need. The department says applications will be processed immediately. In terms of tracking the money, we’re told that the Minister will receive a monthly report which is discussed at a meeting of the Minister and the nine MECs every two months. The report shows the state of spending and where it is going. This is to ensure that the money is being distributed to those in need and that the MECs keep track of the expenditure and actually spend the money. The department says MECs in provinces that are underspending will have to put up with the “glares and stares” at the meeting with the Minister.
If you are in dire material need or know someone who is here’s what you need to know:
| Who can get social relief of distress? |
You can get social relief of distress from the government if you are in a crisis situation. This could be due to the following factors:
- You need help while you wait for the children’s grants to be processed by government.
- A crisis or disaster has occurred, (e.g. your house has burnt down).
- You do not qualify for a grant, and you are in a desperate situation.
- You are unable to work because you are medically unfit – this means you are sick for less than six months.
- You are unable to get maintenance from the other parent of the child or children.
- The breadwinner in the family has died.
- The breadwinner has been sent to prison for a short time (less than six months).
- You have been affected by a disaster, but the area or community in which you live has not been declared a disaster area.
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| What do you get? |
The Social Relief of Distress may be in the form of a food parcel or a voucher to buy food. Some provinces give this assistance in the form of cash. Social Relief of Distress is given for a short time only – usually for up to three months, and sometimes for six months.
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| Steps to follow: |
- Apply for social relief of distress at your nearest Social Security office.
- Submit your application with the following documents:
- Your 13-digit bar-coded identity document and you children’s birth certificates.
- P eople without IDs can also apply with a sworn affidavit of who they are and their situation.
- Show proof that you:
- have applied for a grant
- have had an emergency (e.g. provide a police report that your house burnt down)
- have tried to get maintenance
- have no other support
- are married, divorced, or single
- have no income
- have a short-term medical disability.
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| Service standard: |
- Your application will be processed immediately.
- Once your application is submitted, it will be assessed for credibility and your genuine need for the service.
- Even if you do not have all the documents, you will get your first month’s food parcel, voucher or cash without them.
- Remember to take all the documents to the officer before the second month’s payment is due. If you do not, you may not get your second and third month’s food parcel, voucher or cash.
- If there is no change in your circumstances after you have received the grant for three months, you may apply to have the grant extended for another three months.
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