SASSA Initiative to Accelerate Disability Grant Applications in Western Cape

SASSA Initiative to Accelerate Disability Grant Applications in Western Cape. Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu Unveils Plans to Expedite Western Cape Disability Grant Applications. In response to a question posed by Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Alexandra Abrahams during parliamentary proceedings, Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu revealed that the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) in the Western Cape is taking significant steps to address the backlog in medical assessments for disability grant applications.

Addressing the Shortage of Assessment Doctors in the Western Cape

Abrahams highlighted the concerning shortage of assessment doctors in the province, pointing out that only 11 doctors were available for the entire region. Zulu acknowledged the issue and confirmed that steps were being taken to rectify the situation.

Issuing Letters of Appointment to Doctors

To tackle the backlog, Sassa Western Cape has initiated a process of appointing doctors. As part of this effort, a three-year tender advertisement was released with a closing date of July 14, 2023. Minister Zulu stated, “Sassa Western Cape is in the process of issuing award letters to 14 successful bidders.” These appointed doctors will be given schedules designed to expedite medical assessments, with a specific focus on areas where the demand for these assessments remains high.

Backlog Pertaining to Disability-Related Grant Applications

The backlog primarily involves first-time disability-related grant applications. It is important to note that this issue is not limited to new applications but also extends to those individuals who were previously denied disability grants, as well as those receiving temporary disability grants.

Service Level Agreements with the Provincial Department of Health

Minister Zulu shared that, in an effort to alleviate the shortage of assessment doctors, Sassa Western Cape has established service level agreements with all districts of the provincial Department of Health. These agreements are intended to ensure the provision of medical assessment services. However, the efficient implementation of these agreements has been hindered by the scarcity of doctors and other health practitioners capable of conducting thorough medical assessments.