If you have applied for the SASSA grants and your SASSA status is still pending, then it is not something you should worry about much. Millions of people are applying for SASSA SRD grants, so it is quite hard for SASSA to handle multiple applications and process them quickly. It takes time to verify and process each application for them.
But what if you have applied and it took too much longer than expected, and your SASSA R350 status is still pending? If that is the case, I’ll guide you through this article about what actual SASSA status pending means, how your application is processed, and how long it can take to approve it.
Understanding the Meaning of “SASSA Status Pending”
The SASSA status pending means that your application is received by SASSA, but they still need to review and verify it before approving it. SASSA must verify all your government and financial records, including your identity, citizenship, and financial status to see if you are eligible for the grant. It does not indicate that your application is rejected, but it shows that SASSA needs more time to review it before approving or rejecting it.
You will receive a notification after your application is approved or declined. If approved, you will be asked to provide your bank details to receive the grant payments. In case of rejection, you will be provided with the reason why your application was rejected.
The Reasons Behind Your Status is Still Pending
Your application is still pending due to several factors. One of the main reasons is the high volume of applications submitted to SASSA. Thousands of applications are in the processing queue, and your application might still be behind in the sequence. SASSA manually verifies every application, which is a time-consuming process.
Before approving the application, SASSA also checks your application against multiple databases. Some of the main databases they check against are:
In addition to these checks, SASSA may also verify your application against other databases, including the Department of Social Development (DSD) and the National Credit Regulator (NCR).
Once the verification from all the databases is completed, SASSA further assesses the potential for fraud by analyzing your ID and phone number through a fraud risk scoring system.
After reading that, I hope you have a more clear idea of why the SASSA takes much time to verify and approve your application. But let’s read further to know more about the process and how to make your verification process faster from your side.
How to Fix Your Status From Pending to Approved
First, you must wait until three months after submitting your SRD R370 grant application. If your SASSA application has been pending for over 90 days and is still pending, then you need to take action to avoid further delay and get the exact status of your application.
To make the process quicker and get an update on your application, you need to do the following:
Reach out to SASSA via WhatsApp
Contact SASSA via their WhatsApp number 082 046 8553 to inquire about your application status. They will need your application ID to trace your application and give you the exact answer. They also might ask you to provide the ID number to verify they are talking to the grant application recipient.
Call SASSA via their Toll-Free Number
Call the SASSA call center via their Toll-Free number at 0800 60 10 11 and ask about your application’s status and the reason for the delay. The call center agent will ask you to verify your identity by your ID Number and Application ID. Upon verification, they will inform you of the exact reason and the current status of your application.
Visit Your Local SASSA Office to Ask About Why your Application is Pending
The best way is to visit your local SASSA office and inquire with the SASSA representative about the update on your application status. They may ask you about your identity documents and application ID, provide them with the documents. After verification, they will give you an update on the status of your application and why it is still pending.
How long will it take to be Approved?
Your SASSA application may take up to 90 days to be approved. But it depends on the number of applications they receive and the multiple other verification processes we discussed above. If your application is not approved even after 90 days, then you must follow the above process to get a quick update about the status of your application directly from the SASSA officials.
Tips to avoid longer Status Pending Wait
The delay in your application can also be due to your actions. To avoid longer delays in your application, follow the below best practices:
By following these guidlines, you will speed up your application process, minimizing any potential delays from your end. SASSA will then be able to focus solely on their verification process to approve your application promptly.