SASSA to pay flagged beneficiaries last
Wendy Dondolo | Published 18 hours ago
SASSA introduces fourth payment day for grant reviews in August
Image: File
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has reminded beneficiaries that a fourth payment day has been introduced for social grant recipients who have been identified for grant reviews or eLife Certification, warning that failure to comply could result in grants being suspended.
SASSA said beneficiaries who received their grants on July 7, the fourth payment day during the July payment cycle, are required to visit their nearest SASSA office to complete the review process and avoid disruptions to future payments.
SASSA National Spokesperson, Paseka Letsatsi, said the agency had noticed that some beneficiaries were still unaware of the purpose of the additional payment day.
"The Agency has noted that some beneficiaries are still unfamiliar with the fourth payment day and often become concerned when their grant money is not paid during the normal three-day payment cycle, even though they would have received a notification," said Letsatsi.
He explained that SASSA sends bulk SMS notifications to beneficiaries selected for grant reviews and eLife Certification before scheduling their payments on the fourth day.
"This month, for example, we paid Older Persons Grants on July 2, Disability Grants on July 3, and Children's Grants on July 6. Beneficiaries who still needed to have their social grants reviewed or undergo eLife Certification were paid on July 7, which is what we refer to as the fourth payment day," he said.
SASSA urged beneficiaries to respond immediately when contacted about reviews and to ensure that their personal details remain up to date.
"We would also like to appeal to our beneficiaries to inform SASSA whenever their contact details or residential addresses change because we use the information captured in our system when a person first applied for a grant," Letsatsi said.
According to SASSA, social grant reviews and eLife Certification are conducted in terms of the Social Assistance Act and are intended to verify beneficiaries' continued eligibility for grants. The process also helps prevent payments to deceased or ineligible individuals, detect fraud, and ensure public funds are directed to qualifying recipients.
The agency said regular reviews play a critical role in maintaining the integrity of the social assistance system while improving communication and service delivery through updated beneficiary information.
SASSA has confirmed the following grant payment dates for August:
- Older Persons Grants: Tuesday, August 4
- Disability Grants: Wednesday, August 5
- Children's Grants: Thursday, August 6
- Fourth payment day for beneficiaries targeted for reviews: Friday, August 7
The agency said it remains committed to paying grants to all eligible beneficiaries while strengthening oversight measures to ensure the sustainability and credibility of the social grants system.
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