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Two stages

Appeals and reconsiderations

If your SASSA grant is declined, you have a legal right to have the decision reviewed. There are two distinct routes, and they follow different timelines and forms.

Reconsideration vs appeal

Reconsideration applies only to the SRD R370 grant. It asks SASSA to re-check its own decision for a specific month, usually after the flagged income no longer exists.

Appeal applies to all other grants (older persons, disability, child support, etc.). It escalates the decision beyond SASSA to the Independent Tribunal for Social Assistance Appeals in the Department of Social Development.

SRD reconsideration process

  1. Open srd.sassa.gov.za and log in with your ID and OTP.
  2. Select Application for Reconsideration.
  3. Choose the exact month you were declined. You can lodge one reconsideration per declined month.
  4. Submit within 90 days of the decline decision.
  5. Track the outcome under the same portal. Reconsiderations typically resolve within 60 to 90 days.

You cannot reconsider a reconsideration. If the reconsideration outcome is still a decline, your remaining option is a court review. Most declines that reverse do so because the applicant no longer has the flagged deposit in a subsequent month.

Formal appeal for other grants

  1. Get a copy of the SASSA decline letter and any reason codes.
  2. Complete the SASSA Appeal Form — available at any SASSA office and on sassa.gov.za.
  3. Attach documents that address the reason for decline (updated medical assessment, corrected bank statements, marriage certificate, etc.).
  4. Submit within 90 days of the decline. You can hand-deliver, email or post it.
  5. SASSA forwards the appeal to the Independent Tribunal in Pretoria.
  6. You receive a written decision. Approvals are paid from the original application date.

How long does it take?

TypeDeadline to lodgeTypical wait
SRD reconsideration90 days60–90 days
Other grant appeal90 days3–6 months
Court review (last resort)180 days from tribunal outcomeDepends on the court roll

Practical tips

  • Include a short letter explaining what has changed since the decline.
  • Attach only certified copies. Keep the originals.
  • Use a courier or hand-deliver — do not rely on ordinary mail.
  • Track your case reference number. Every SASSA office has an appeals register.
  • Watch for scams. SASSA never charges you to lodge an appeal, and no one from SASSA will ask for your bank card PIN.

External help

If you feel your rights are being denied, you may contact:

  • Public Protector South Africa — for maladministration cases.
  • Black Sash Helpline — 072 633 3739 — a non-profit that assists grant applicants free of charge.
  • Legal Aid South Africa — 0800 110 110 — for legal representation.