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Social Assistance Act, 2004 (Act No. 13 of 2004)

Regulations

Regulations relating to the Application for and Payment of Social Assistance and the Requirements or Conditions in respect of Eligibility for Social Assistance

Chapter 2 : Application for Social Assistance

16. Procedure to be followed in application for social relief of distress

 

(1) An application for social relief of distress must be made on the relevant form, manually or electronically and be completed and signed by the applicant or his or her procurator.

 

(2) The Agency must approve or reject the application for social relief of distress immediately.

 

(3)
(a) The Agency must inform the applicant for social relief of distress that if the documentation required in terms of regulation 17(1) is not available when the application is made, such documentation must be produced before any subsequent payments are made.
(b) The applicant for social relief of distress must be furnished with an electronic receipt or notification of outcome for the application for social relief of distress and must contain the name of the applicant, and the date of the application.

 

(4) Where an application for social relief of distress is approved, the Agency must inform the applicant by electronic communication or any other means of communication of such approval, the amount or form of relief granted.

 

(5) Where an application for social relief of distress is rejected, the Agency must inform the applicant by electronic communication or any other means of communication of such rejection and of—
(a) the reasons for such rejection;
(b) the applicant's right, if he or she is aggrieved by the Agency’s decision, to lodge an appeal in writing with the Independent Tribunal; and
(c) the mechanism and procedure for lodging such an appeal.

 

(6) With regard to the extension of social relief of distress, the Agency may request a social service professional or any other designated person to investigate the circumstances of an applicant and to submit to the Agency a written report containing a recommendation whether social relief of distress should be extended.

 

(7) The Agency must keep a register of all applications for social relief of distress that are received in which the following must be recorded, where applicable:
(a) Identifying particulars;
(b) the date of application;
(c) the date on which social relief of distress is granted for the first time;
(d) the form of social relief of distress granted, whether in cash or in any other form and the value thereof; and
(e) the date to which social relief of distress is extended.

 

(8) The Agency must ensure that all personal information and biometrics received are processed, stored and protected in terms of the Protection of Personal Information Act 2013 (Act No. 4 of 2013) and the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 2002 (Act No. 25 of 2002).