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Chapter 7 - Social Welfare

Model letters

Letter of appeal
 [Letterhead]

[Date]
Our Ref: _____

Remember: As an applicant or beneficiary your client should lodge an appeal to the following institutions in the following order.

1) The Social Security Agency for South Africa
(Fill in address)
2) Independent Tribunal for Social Assistance Appeals (ITSAA) on behalf of The Minister of Social Development (If your client is not satisfied with the outcome of SASSA they may appeal to the Minister within 90 days)
(Fill in the address)

Dear Sir/Madam,

Re:  Mr/Mrs. XXX with ID no. 000000000000000 lodging an appeal in terms of Section 18(1) of the Social Assistance Act 13 of 2004:

In our capacity as (paralegal caseworkers) we confirm that we assist the above mentioned client to lodge an appeal in term of Section 18 of the Social Assistance Act 13 of 2004. Ms/Mr. [name] has nominated our offices to follow up and receive all correspondence relating to this appeal.

Kindly take note that Ms/Mr. [name] lodged all relevant documentation during the application procedure with SASSA. We herewith ask for an investigation into the appeal the furnishing of reasons of the decision for rejection of the application to Mrs/Mr XXX. We further ask for an appeal hearing date within 30 days of your office receiving this appeal.

Mrs/Mr. XX believe that the service centre officer of SASSA or the appeal division in SASSA did not apply her/his mind to the records presented and therefore base this appeal on the following;

(In this section the client must explain the reasons he/she believe entitles them to the grant, what records they have to support their case etc.)

We trust this appeal application is in order and await the date of the appeal.

Yours kindly,

[name]    
Paralegal Caseworker   

Letter to the Regional SASSA office

This is a letter explaining that the Power of Attorney has been renewed, and asking for all grant payments that were kept back to be paid to the client.

Saamwerk Advice Centre
Room 9, Avocado Centre
Claremont
7700

Tel: 021-6836252
(Put in the date)

Reference No: 135/09

The Regional SASSA Officer

Dear Madam / Sir

re: NAME: _________________________________________
IDENTITY NUMBER: _________________________________________
GRANT NUMBER: _________________________________________
NAME OF POWER OF ATTORNEY HOLDER: _________________________________________

(put in the client's name, identity number and grant number, and the name of the person who has power of attorney to collect the grant for the client)

We have been approached for assistance by the abovementioned pensioner/disabled person who was in receipt of an Old Age Pension/Disability Grant/War Veteran's Pension until payments were stopped on______________________ .(put in the date)

We understand that payments were stopped because our client Mr/Ms _______________________ (put in the client's name) failed to renew the Power of Attorney as required.

The Power of Attorney has now been renewed and accordingly there is now no impediment to continued grant payments.

In the circumstances, would you ensure that on the next payout date the grant is paid as normal together with the sum of R __________________________ (put in the amount of back grant that is owed) being arrears since date of last payment.

We regret that should the matter not be settled as set out above, we shall have no alternative but to take legal action.

Yours faithfully

________________________________
(put your name and capacity, and sign)

APPLICATION FOR SOCIAL RELIEF OF DISTRESS AWARD

Saamwerk Advice Centre
Room 9, Avocado Centre
Claremont
7700


Tel: 021-6836252
15th February 2009

Reference No: 135/09

Dear Madam/Sir

NAME OF CLIENT

Identity Number: __

We write to you on behalf of the above-mentioned client.

S/he is in need of temporary material assistance.

Our client is currently: (select only what is relevant and delete the rest BEFORE printing
Awaiting permanent aid
Medically unfit to undertake remunerative work. This has been the case for a period less than 6 months
Entitled to maintenance from a person obliged to pay maintenance
A member of a household of which the breadwinner is deceased and insufficient means are available
A member of a household of which the breadwinner has been admitted to an institution for less than 6 months
Affected by a disaster or emergency, although the area of the community in which he/she lives has not yet been declared as a disaster area
Not receiving assistance from any other organisation
Appealing the suspension of his/her grant
Not a member of a household that is already receiving social assistance
Entitled to relief in terms of the regulations which hold that a person may be
granted relief in exceptional circumstances.

It would be appreciated if you could assist our client in the application for this alleviation award by ensuring that his/her application gets processed speedily. S/he is in serious need of social assistance and this would ensure that his/her difficult circumstances are not prolonged.

Should you decide not to grant our client a Social Relief of Distress Award, kindly provide written reasons for such refusal.

Yours sincerely

NAME

Paralegal Caseworker

 
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