ONLY 28 Sassa doctors are employed in the Western Cape to conduct medical assessments for disability grant applications, says the South African Social Security Agency.
These doctors, based in the metro, Boland/Overberg, West Coast and Eden Karoo areas, have the task of assessing beneficiaries who receive grants via the agency.
Weekend Argus last week reported on two cases in Mitchells Plain where severely permanently disabled beneficiaries had been given temporary grants after reapplying for disability grants.
The beneficiaries, one who was diagnosed with hydroceaphulus (water on the brain), spastic cerebral palsy and cortical blindness, and the other with brain damage by medical doctors, had their diagnoses changed to “temporary” by Sassa doctors when they turned 18.
One of the parents, who did not want to be named, said she had her doubts about the doctors employed at the SASSA’s offices and called for an investigation.
However, spokesperson for the agency, Shivani Wahab, said that all doctors had been adequately trained.
“All doctors rendering medical assessment services attend a compulsory training on SASSA legislation pertaining to qualifying criteria for disability related social assistance.”
Wahab explained that a disability grant application is followed up with a medical assessment by a SASSA doctor, to firstly establish the disability and to determine the extent of the disability.
She said the application process was followed by a medical assessment with a contracted doctor and a final visit to Sassa for the outcome of the application.
“A disability grant is awarded to an applicant who is unable to secure employment, as a result of a functional limitation caused by a disability/medical condition.
“A temporary disability grant is awarded for a period of six to 12 months, after which the grant lapses in terms of the Social Assistance Act and a reapplication must be conducted should the client’s medical condition not improve.
“A permanent disability grant is awarded for a period longer than 12 months.”
Wahab added that the extent of the medical disability determines whether the applicant would qualify for a temporary or permanent disability grant.
“The doctor’s recommendation, following the medical assessment process, is final on the medical aspect of the application.
“SASSA makes the final decision on the disability grant application in respect of the financial means of the applicant.”
Wahab said no incidents of doctors recording the details of a medical assessment incorrectly were reported in the Western Cape.
“Should that ever be the case, the necessary steps would obviously be taken to immediately rectify the matter, to ensure that no social grant client is disadvantaged by an incorrect medical diagnosis.”
In the previous article, one of the mothers had to wait months for a date to see the SASSA doctor and payments were delayed.
Wahab said the backlog was due to a high number of lapsed temporary disability grants and not the shortage of contracted doctors.
“The backlog from January was successfully eliminated. This included the appointment system for every applicant, as well as the online application system and the linked advantages.
“The closure of SASSA service points and Covid-19 regulations, also contributed to the backlog. In addition to this, many clients who booked for medical assessments, did not honour their appointments.
“Some clients who completed their medical assessments didn’t return to SASSA for the post-assessment application, where the final outcome of the assessment is communicated to the client.
“So the backlog was based on a number of factors and not on a shortage of contracted doctors.”
Wahab concluded that the medical assessments in the Western Cape between April 1 last year and March this year stood at 85 097. Clients booked for medical assessments as of Thursday was 3 878.