Disability rights advocacy groups and activists have slammed the South African Social Security Agency for leaving the disabled community in the lurch.
First-time applicants for disability grants were excluded from the monetary aid as new applications ceased at the start of the lockdown last year.
Sassa says this was because the administration of social grants was not considered an essential service, only the payment of social grants.
Temporary disability grants were originally due to lapse on February 1, 2020, but were extended by the Minister of Social Development until the end of December 2020.
No further extension was approved and all affected beneficiaries will now need to be re-assessed by a medical practitioner to qualify for the continuation of the grant.