2003 blow for disability grants
2002-12-30 09:27
Bridget Ducasse
Pietermaritzburg - All temporary disability grants will be suspended for three months from February as a result of a joint decision taken by the national and provincial welfare departments.
"At present, there are approximately 100 000 temporary disability grants in the pensions system for KwaZulu-Natal, where the period for which the grant was given has expired," said social welfare and population development MEC Prince Gideon Zulu.
Payment had continued because the system of informing the recipients that payment had stopped was not working. Letters for those affected would be handed out at pay points, or posted to recipients who got their money through banks, from January.
Disability grants awarded in terms of the Social Assistance Act of 1992 may either be temporarily or permanently cancelled, depending on the medical condition and/or disability of the applicant.
Temporary disability grants are awarded for a specific period of either six or 12 months and, once the period has expired, payment of the grant should stop.
Zulu said: "Any applicant for a disability grant is informed of the classification given to his grant, and the period for which the grant is given at the time that his application is approved."
He said those who felt they still qualified for a disability grant should contact their nearest welfare office as soon as possible and lodge a new application.
Those who were angered by the suspension decision could apply for restoration of the grant. This had to be done in writing, giving reasons for the request, supported by medical information, and submitted to the nearest district welfare office within 90 days of the suspension of the grant.
Zulu said: "The department sincerely regrets any inconvenience and hardship caused to customers through this action. Every attempt is being made to assist all affected customers with their queries and re-applications."
He said that in order to ensure district offices were able to manage the numbers of people expected to re-apply, additional staff would be employed throughout the province.
- The Witness