Plan to collect your R350 grant at an ATM without your card? Make sure your cell number is Rica'd

The SA Security Agency (Sassa) has advised those who have applied for the R350 social relief of distress (SRD) grant to ensure their cellphone numbers have gone through the Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication-related Information Act (Rica) process.

The agency announced on Tuesday that applicants should make sure their cellphone numbers have gone through the process if they choose to be paid through cardless banking at an ATM.

“If they choose to be paid through their bank accounts they must ensure the bank account provided is registered in their name,” said Sassa.

“This will assist the client to withdraw their grant with ease from merchants as till pins are sent to cellphone numbers provided when applying.”

Last week, Sassa spokesperson Paseka Letsatsi told TimesLIVE almost 1.5-million of those who chose the “cash send” payment option have not been paid.

He assured applicants they will be paid as soon as the agency has received approval from the National Treasury.

“As soon as the Treasury approves our request, we will pay every cent owed to this category of beneficiaries without delay. We empathise with them but we also have a responsibility to follow the law,” he said.

Letsatsi advised applicants who chose the cardless payment option at ATMs to provide their bank details to ensure speedy payment.

“If they do not provide banking details by Thursday, Sassa will arrange to pay them through the SA Post Office for August, September and October 2021,” he said.

Approved grants can also be collected at post offices.

Here are the payment dates for October according to the last three digits of beneficiaries’ ID numbers:

080 — TuesdayOctober 12, 19 and 26

081 — WednesdayOctober 13, 20 and 27 

082 — ThursdayOctober 14, 21 and 28

083 — FridayOctober 1, 15, 22 and 29

084 — MondayOctober 11, 18 and 25

085 — TuesdayOctober 12, 19 and 26

086 — WednesdayOctober 13, 20 and 27

087 — ThursdayOctober 14, 21 and 28

088 — FridayOctober 1, 15, 22 and 29 

089 — MondayOctober 11, 18 and 25

These dates are applicable to the post office payout system. Beneficiaries can receive their grants as soon as they receive confirmation of payment from Sassa.