COJ increases ESP income threshold
More residents can now apply for ESP benefits
The Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Health and Social Development, Dr Mpho Phalatse, has announced that more residents are likely to qualify for the Expanded Social Package (ESP) benefits in future.
The City of Johannesburg’s (CoJ) ESP aims to assist indigent residents by offering them a basket of benefits based on their level of poverty. The monthly income threshold changes annually on 1 November, based on the latest Consumer Price Index (CPIX) figures. “I am pleased to announce that the monthly threshold for the ESP has been increased from R5 308,20 to R5 578,91,” the MMC said.
Also Read: The City of Johannesburg urges residents to register for ESP benefits
There are currently 321 984 residents registered as indigent, and the CoJ is urging all other residents who meet the criteria to register at one of the ESP centres, which are located in all seven regions.
To benefit from the rebates offered by the ESP programme, residents must meet the following criteria:
• Be a South African Citizen
• Reside within the CoJ boundaries (for this, proof of residence is required, for example a CoJ billing statement, a confirmation letter from the local councillor, or a police affidavit )
• Monthly income must not exceed R5 578,91 per month, or applicant must be unemployed.
The ESP programme offer a variety of benefits to qualifying residents. These benefits include the following:
For pensioners (aged 60 and above):
· Rates rebates for properties valued under R2 000 000 (two million rand)
· The account must be in the pensioner’s name
· Electricity rebates on both prepaid and conventional accounts (City Power and Eskom)
· Water rebates on conventional accounts
· The citizen does not have to be a homeowner to qualify for the metered service benefits
· Referral for social work intervention programmes for the elderly and services offered by the CoJ departments.
For working age citizens and the unemployed (aged 18–59):
· Rates rebates on properties valued under R450 000
· Electricity rebates on both prepaid and conventional accounts (City Power and Eskom)
· Water rebate on conventional accounts (the ESP water rebate is granted if the individual uses more than six kilolitres of water per month)
· The citizen does not have to be a homeowner to qualify for the metered service benefits
· Referral for programmes and services offered by the CoJ departments, including Skills Development, Social Service Interventions, Food Resilience, Youth Programmes, and Intervention Programmes for the Homeless.
“As part of our pro-poor agenda, the CoJ calls upon all residents that meet the new ESP threshold to register, as well as to assist those who qualify, but are unaware of the benefits, to contact their local councillors or register at their nearest COJ offices,” the MMC concluded.
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