Social grant recipients who haven’t renewed their expired Sassa gold cards have until December 31 to do so.

The Payments Association of South Africa (Pasa) recently extended the validity of the expired cards to the end of the year.

This allows recipients access to their social grant payments at ATMs and merchant points of sale (POS) withdrawals and by making purchases without the need to collect new cards or switch to other banks.

Postbank spokesperson Bongani Diako said Pasa has sent correspondence to all banks to ensure they are ready to accept expired Sassa/Postbank gold cards, and Postbank has concluded its own preparations.

From the end of April, social grant recipients can collect their grants payments at their usual collection points using their expired Sassa/Postbank gold cards, regardless of the expiry date.

“The Sassa/Postbank gold cards are a tailored product designed to protect social grants recipients from past financial abuse. Those using these cards will continue to receive three free purchase transactions per month.

“Post office branches will continue to re-issue lost and stolen cards and facilitate payments for grants recipients who prefer using biometric verification.

“So if you have an expired Sassa/Postbank gold card, you can rest assured that you will still receive your grant money without any disruption until the end of 2023.”

He said that this is great news for social grant recipients and hoped that this extension brings much-needed relief to those who rely on these grants.

“Postbank is still going to replace the Sassa/Postbank gold cards before the end of December 2023 in line with the directive of the South African Reserve Bank.

“A new Postbank social grants payments card will be launched in line with the card replacement programme.

“Social grants recipients using the Sassa/Postbank gold card will be notified as to when to come forward to collect new cards in line with the card replacement program in the next few weeks.”

Social grants recipients that prefer to use the recently introduced Postbank cardless method of accessing social grants via the participating retailers that include Shoprite, Boxer, Pick n Pay, Usave, Checkers and OK are encouraged to do so as that alternative option is still available.