SASSA Appeal Online for Rejected R370 and Declined Reasons

The South African Social Security Agency declined your SRD R370 or any other grant application, and you need to know “why”. You provided all your authenticated credentials within the stipulated time as per SASSA’s guidelines, and you are confident you haven’t made any mistakes, but unfortunately, your application was rejected.

You wondered, you did everything in a good time, why did it happen? It could be that SASSA did not scrutinize your application explicitly. Consequently, you are not satisfied with the decision and want SASSA to reconsider your application.

So, for that, you have the option to submit a SASSA Appeal Online against your rejection. Remember, you can appeal within 30 to 90 days maximum from the day you have been notified via SMS of being rejection. 

SASSA received your appeals and directed them to “ITSAA” (Independent Tribunal for Social Assistance Appeals). It is a collaborator of SASSA and DSD (Department of Social Development), which deals with the appeals that have risen against SASSA. 

SASSA Appeal Online for Rejected R370 and Declined Reasons
Image:1 – How to SASSA Appeal

How to Submit SASSA Appeal online?

You have applied, and the organization declined your application. You disagree with the decision, so now, you must click on either link to file a SASSA appeal online on the Department of Social Development (DSD) website or the South African Social Security Agency.

When you click on the DSD link, you will see the screen, as shown below.

SASSA Appeal Online for Rejected R370 and Declined Reasons
Banking Options for SASSA Loan

After that, this page will be visible, you can loadge and appeal here, and additionally, you can check your SASSA appeal online status also.

SASSA Appeal Online for Rejected R370 and Declined Reasons
Banking Options for SASSA Loan

Clicking on any link will bring up a “Lodge and Appeal or Check an Appeal Status” web page. You must enter your South African 13-digit ID & Your Registered Mobile Number with SASSA to access the electronic appeal form. Secondly, you need to enter the 6-digit APP-ID (Application ID) you received from SASSA when your application was rejected. Applicants must SASSA appeal online within 30 days after the application is rejected. Now, let’s take a more step-by-step look at the process.

  • Opt for the month in which the user wants to appeal.
  • Write your appeal concerns.
  • Click on the tab “Submit”.

After submitting the appeal, SASSA directed all appeals to the ITSAA (Independent Tribunal for Social Assistance Appeals). They evaluate appeals within at least 60 days and a maximum of 90 days. Applicants will be notified electronically (SMS) with reasons.

For further assistance, contact:

  • The Department of Social Development (DSD) at email:[email protected].
  • The Independent Tribunal for Social Assistance Appeals (ITSAA) at Tel: 012 312 7727.
SASSA Appeal Online for Rejected R370 and Declined Reasons
Image:3 – Reasons of appeal rejections

Reasons Why SASSA SRD R370 Grant Declined

Your application could have been rejected for several reasons. It is essential to carefully review these reasons to identify why your application was rejected.

1. Double Check your Credentials

Applicants often need to fill out the form correctly; after declining your application, double-check your credentials. When applying for the SASSA SRD R370 or any other grant, you must ensure everything is correct.

2. Alternative Income source identified

Applicants whose bank accounts regularly deposit more than R595 cannot appeal to SASSA online as their application has been rejected based on that specific violation. If the monthly deposit exceeds R595, the application will be rejected, but if it is less than this amount, you are eligible. SASSA has further reduced the amount to R350 until May 2024.

3. Identification Failed

When you applied, the Department of Home Affairs should have verified the South African ID or special permits provided to Asylum seekers or refugees. So, it is one of the reasons that your verification has failed or, sometimes, your SASSA Banking Details are invalid.

4. Receiving other SASSA grant

Applicants must not receive any other government social grant in South Africa during the application period.

5. Using SASSA Care & Service Facility

The information on the form indicates that the users who receives An Old Age Grant and stays in a SASSA Care and Service Facility is unable to qualify, and if they do so, their application has been declined.

6. NSFAS Registered

The application will be rejected if the client receives the National Student Fund Aid Scheme during the specified period under consideration.

7. Grant Cancellation

The client is already receiving SRD R370 or more from SASSA without meeting the criteria, which means that SASSA made a mistake. Hence, SASSA will stop your grant.

Remember that all rejected applications cannot be appealed to DSD or SASSA. Why? Sometimes, SASSA mistakenly approves grants that are not your right, so that kind of appeal would not be entertained.

Introduction of ITSAA Appeals

In 2008, South Africa was kicked off the ITSAA (The Independent Tribunal for Social Assistance Appeals). Its’ primary role is to carry out administrative justice and legal endorsement according to “Section 33,” determined by the Constitution of South Africa. Moreover, The Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana, appointed civil society members as individuals to speed up the ITSAA appeals process.

They examine and adjudicate appeals related to The SASSA Grants. The Ministry of Finance has ensured that the ITSAA is mandated to adjudicate appeals under Section 18 of the Social Assistance Act, 2004. The organization also follows SASSA’s rules and regulations for considering appeals. The ITSAA will review SASSA’s decision on the matter upon request. The maximum time frame given by ITSAA is 60 to 90 days, but appeals can be finalized sooner.

Remember that ITSAA’s decision on your SASSA appeal online will be final. Thereafter, no further action will be considered. However, according to the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act of 2000, you can appeal to the High Court of South Africa to reconsider it. After the ITSAA decision, you have 06 months to lodge an appeal to high court. 

Note that there is no official ITSAA website, but you can get information by browsing the website Parlimanteray Monitoring Group. 

How long does SASSA/ITSSA take to appeal?

After receiving your appeal to SASSA/ITSSA, the process will begin. Usually, there are two reasons for the decline: one is that the applicant made a mistake or provided inauthentic information, or SASSA made a mistake and approved it.

First, they will cross-check the information to see whether SASSA made a mistake. Then, they will investigate whether you made mistakes deliberately or not. In either situation, the outfit will take 60 to 90 days. In case of missing information, your application will be approved, and ITSSA will be directed to SASSA for further proceeding.

Moreover, applicants shall file a re-examination SASSA appeal online in the current month in which the application was rejected. So, you were notified via SMS. For example, if you cannot lodge the SASSA appeal online in the relevant month due to any of your engagements. Then, whenever you file an appeal, you must lodge a separate appeal for the current and previous months, respectively.

Therefore, it is best to file an appeal to the Independent Social Assistance Appeals Tribunal as soon as you receive a rejection notice from SASSA. The most important note is that you have to file an appeal within 03 months (90 days) of receiving the rejection SMS. Otherwise, SASSA’s decision to reject your application will remain the same.

5 Ways to Speed up the SASSA Appeal online Process

Here’s a step-by-step process for submitting an SASSA appeal online. This will increase your chances of having your application reconsidered and potentially receiving the financial relief you need.

  • Step 1: It’s crucial to read the eligibility criteria thoroughly and ensure that all the information you provide is accurate. If there is any deficiency, take responsibility for correcting it and resubmitting it.
  • Step 2: Read the Declaration and Consent Documents very carefully and attentively before clicking to proceed with the next step.
  • Step 3: Click the “Submit” button and wait for the browser to confirm that your application has been submitted successfully.
  • Step-4: The Independent Tribunal will inform you of the result of your appeal electronically within 60 – 90 days of lodging the appeal.
  • Step 5: Your correct contact information is required. If your appeal is successful, the Independent Tribunal for Social Assistance Appeals (ITSAA) will direct SASSA to start paying the SRD R350/R370 Grant directly to you.
SASSA Appeal Online for Rejected R370 and Declined Reasons
Image:2 – Check your appeal status

How to Check your Appeal Status (srd.sassa.gov.za appeal)

You can check the status of your SASSA appeal online through official websites by entering your South African ID and mobile number and additionally, check your SASSA Grant SRD R370 Status, balance, payment history, etc.

SASSA Appeal via SMS

To check the appeal status of your application, write your 13-digit ID number and send it to 32573. The electronic portal will then send you your appeal status via SMS.

SASSA Appeal via Helpline

Applicants can call 0800 601 011 free of charge to check the appeal status of their application. The representative will ask for their South African ID number and appeal reference number, and then the caller will inform you about the status of your appeal.

What should we do after ITSAA’s final decision?

Upon re-examining the appeals, the ITSAA will render a final decision. This could either be accepted or met with further rejection by the appellants. If the appellants face another rejection, they should understand that there are no further internal-departmental processes. Suppose the appellants remain unsatisfied with ITSAA’s decision and believe the matter still needs to be amicably resolved. In that case, they have the option to file a constitutional petition for reconsideration in the High Court of South Africa against ITSAA/SASSA/DSD under the Administrative Justice Act, 2000 within 06 months.

SASSA Appeal Online Summary

SASSA appeal online is a facility for those whose applications are rejected. Users can lodge an appeal within 30 to 90 days of the rejection. The Independent Tribunal for Social Assistance Appeals (ITSAA) handles these appeals. Applicants can check their SRD appeal status through electronic portals, SMS, or a helpline.

The Department of Social Development and the South African Social Security Agency have several reasons for rejecting an application. These include identifying an alternative income source, identification failing, an existing SASSA grant, an exclusionary response found, a debtor, and NSFAS registration.

To speed up the SASSA appeal online process, read the eligibility criteria, download the Declaration & Consent Documents, submit the application, and await confirmation. The ITSAA will inform the applicant of the outcome electronically within 60-90 days. If an appeal is successful, the Independent Tribunal will instruct SASSA to start paying directly to the applicant.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my SASSA appeal online is approved?

Applicants can call 0800601011; a SASSA representative will verify their identity by asking for their ID number and some other confidential information. Finally, a representative will inform them of their SASSA appeal online status.

How do I appeal a SASSA R350 declined?

Browse SASSA’s official site. The first step is to enter your credentials and a PIN that you received via SMS when your application was rejected. You will then verify your identity and hit the “Submit” button.

How long does it take for the SASSA appeal online to be approved?

SASSA takes 60 to 90 days to verify various processes, such as verifying your identity using the Department of Home Affairs database. In addition, ITSAA will also verify your income and bank deposits. Once the appeal has been reviewed, SASSA will notify you of the outcome electronically.

Is the R350 grant increased to R700?

No, not like that; paying R700 is fake news. SASSA is doling out R350 in Social Relief of Distress Grant every month. The SRD 350 welfare grant project will close by March 2024.

Why is my appeal still pending?

The large number of applications for appeals to ITSAA received could be the primary reason for the pending. Usually, it takes 30 days, but in such cases, it is delayed for 90 days.

What happens after an appeal is approved?

When ITSAA approved the appeal, he sent his decision back to the institute that filed an appeal. So, SASSA will start giving you a grant in response to this appeal.

SASSA Appeal Online for Rejected R370 and Declined Reasons
Image:4 – Contact SASSA/DSD for any query