Cape Town – Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini says her department has proposed to set up an independent inspectorate to improve the management of investigations and appeals relating to social grants.
The Minister said the Inspectorate for Social Assistance will be established when amendments to the Social Assistance Act have been effected. She was briefing media on the proposed amendments to the Social Assistance Act on Tuesday in Cape Town.
In September, Cabinet reviewed a proposal from the Department of Social Development for Amendments of the Social Assistance Act and approved for amendments to be released for public comment.
“On the administration front… the amendment bill provides for efficiency improvements in the management of appeals and for the setting up of the inspectorate as an independent unit,” the Minister said.
In its current form, the appeals process in the Social Assistance Act provides for an administrative review of the decision within the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), which was causing unnecessary delays in accessing the right to appeal in relation to social grants, which delays social justice.
For example, if someone is not happy with the outcome of their grant application, they are first required to approach SASSA within 90 days to ask for the decision to be reconsidered.
SASSA then has 90 days to respond, after which the appellant can approach the Independent Tribunal for Social Assistance Appeals within three months.
A provision of another 90 days is also made for the Tribunal to respond.
Minister Dlamini said while the time provisions were aimed at giving SASSA staff an opportunity to process appeals without making errors, this process took up to a year.
“SASSA has, however, improved its administration system significantly and has many built-in quality control checks and balances.
“There is no longer a need for this potential six-month delay before SASSA can lodge an appeal.
“The amendment Bill proposes that a person will, immediately after receiving a decision from SASSA relating to their grant application, be able to directly lodge an appeal with the Independent Tribunal within a period of 90 days from the date of SASSA’s decision,” she said.
Funeral benefits for the elderly
Minister Dlamini said the amendment of the Social Assistance Act will also seek to establish a supplementary benefits fund, which will enable government to provide funeral benefits to the elderly and a savings vehicle for caregivers of children, with the aim of linking social grants to developmental activities.
As part of the amendments, Minister Dlamini, along with the Finance Minister, will be able to make additional payments for certain social grants.
This, the Minister said, will enable the introduction of the policy approved by Cabinet in December 2015 for the payment of additional amounts for the child support grant to orphans and children in child-headed households.
“Lack of death and funeral social security benefits has left social grant beneficiaries vulnerable to exploitative and predatory practices by private insurance providers.
“There is also bad conduct from financial service providers or their brokers. Beneficiaries are sold multiple products with an understanding that it is a SASSA benefit.
“The introduction of a Supplementary Benefits Fund provides a vehicle for government to provide additional benefits, such as funeral benefits and any other benefit linked to a social grant beneficiary based on needs,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za
