Social Relief of Distress
Pertaining to requesting Social Relief of Distress
Social Relief of distress is the temporary supply of aid meant for those whose material requirements are so great that they cannot provide for their families' most basic necessities.
This could be due to the following factors:
- You require assistance while you wait for the processing of your children's grants.
- There has been a crisis or catastrophe (e.g. your house has burnt down)
- Due to a medical condition, you are unable to work for a period of less than six months.
- The other parent of your child or children won't pay you maintenance.
- The family's primary provider has passed away.
- You have been impacted by a disaster, but your neighborhood or community has not been designated as a disaster area.
What do you get?
Providing food in the form of a food parcel or a food voucher is considered Social Relief of Distress. Some provinces provide this help in the form of money. Only a brief period of time—typically up to three months, which may be extended for an additional three months—is allocated for social distress relief.
What you should do:
- Visit the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) office closest to you to submit a request for social relief of distress
- Include the following documents with your application submission:
- Birth certificates for your children as well as your 13-digit barcoded identity document.
- If a birth certificate or your identity papers are unavailable:
- An affidavit that a Justice of the Peace has ordered. A sentence stating that providing false or misleading information will result in legal action under Section 21 of the Social Assistance Act of 2004 must be included in the affidavit.
- A sworn statement from a credible individual who is familiar with the applicant and the kid. This could be from a council member, traditional figurehead, social worker, or religious leader.
- Evidence that a birth certificate or identification document application has been submitted to the Department of Home Affairs.
- Please take note that the sworn statement/affidavit is required in order to process any application.
- If you don't have a birth certificate or identity document, you might be able to prove your claim with an affidavit from the police chief, local police station, council member, or religious leader.
- Give evidence that you:
- Have submitted a funding application
- Have had a crisis (e.g. provide a police report that your house burnt down)
- Attempated to obtain maintenance
- No other means of support
- Are married, divorced, or single
- Have no source of income
- Possess a temporary medical impairment.
How long does it normally take?
- The processing of your application will start right away.
- Your application will be evaluated after it is filed to determine its legitimacy and whether you actually require the service.
- You will still receive your first month's food box, voucher, or cash even if you lack all required paperwork.
- Before the second month's payment is due, don't forget to deliver all the paperwork to the officer. If you don't, you might not receive the food box, voucher, or cash for the second and third months.
- After receiving the award for three months, if your situation has not changed, you may request that it be extended for an additional three months.
What does it cost?
It's a free service.
Forms to complete
The application form is not accessible online, but you can pick one up at the SASSA office that is closest to you.