​Qaqambile Mdledle
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has opened a system to change the R350 Social Relief of Distress Grant (SRD) Grant payment method.
Applicants are now able to change their method of payment and have their money to be paid into a bank account. 
"SASSA confirms the bank account method as the most convenient and quickest way to receive the grant, thereby avoiding queues at the Post Office," the agency said in a statement on Thursday. 
The period to change payment method opens on 3-10 September, while the other social support grants are being paid. 
Applications for the grant opened on 6 August 2021 and is set to run until the end of March 2022. The grant is set to benefit unemployed citizens, most of whom lost their jobs when COVID-19 struck in 2020.
 Caregivers who are not receiving any grant on their own behalf will also be eligible to apply for the grant
The agency has to date- received more than 11 million applications for the grant but it is still verifying those who have not received their payments. 
Despite the high number of applications, SASSA has been able to expedite payment of verified clients, while continuing to verify the remaining applications.
SASA has reminded beneficiaries that the Post Office does not pay the SRD Grant during the normal social grant payments of the old age, disability and children's grants.
Clients, who have received the R350 grant in their SASSA card, are advised not to collect their money at the post office but to access the money at merchants or bank ATMs.
Caregivers who receive child grants and who have been approved for the R350 relief grant are paid through the payment card.