Covid-19 relief: grant applicants top 3.5-million

More than 3.5-million people have already applied for the new temporary grant launched on Monday to provide some relief for people who are unemployed and not getting any other form of financial assistance during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The temporary grant of R350 a month was introduced as part of the government’s economic and social support package.

“The special Covid-19 social relief of distress grant is intended to mitigate the undue hardships faced by individuals and families through this difficult time,” said social development minister Lindiwe Zulu. “We are pleased with the intake so far, and we urge all eligible individuals to apply on time,”

Zulu said those already receiving social grants were not eligible for the grant. “It is meant to benefit only people who are currently not receiving any form of income support from government,” she said. Application for the temporary grant is done electronically, either through a WhatsApp line, SMS line, the website or e-mail.

The department said the applications were now being assessed and verified. Those eligible would be notified and start to receive their first payments by Friday.

Applicants were being checked against all government databases to ensure that they were not receiving any sort of financial relief through forms of assistance such as social grants, the UIF or National Student Financial Aid Scheme.

THE SPECIAL ... GRANT IS INTENDED TO MITIGATE THE UNDUE HARDSHIPS FACED BY INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT TIME