New, safe Sassa card ready

Old Sassa cards can still be used until 30 September.

June 11, 2018

Felicia Nkhwashu 2 minutes read

Sassa has urged its beneficiaries to swap their old cards for new ones by the end of September.

The new SA Social Security Agency card came into effect last month to offer cardholders improved security.

“Old Sassa cards can still be used until 30 September,” the agency said in a statement.

“Bedridden and frail beneficiaries will be provided with the contact number to request for a home visit for the changing of the card.”

Older and disabled persons had until June to change to the new card while beneficiaries of children’s grant were given until July/August to change their cards.

“The changes of the old Sassa card to new Sassa card for beneficiaries withdrawing their grants at pay-points (community halls, tribal authorities, other community structures) will happen at the place where they receive their grant during July and August,” Sassa said.

The new card had the following benefits:

– No illegal deductions.

– Three free cash withdrawal at merchants.

– One free cash withdrawal per month from a Post Office branch.

– All purchases (swipes) at merchants are free.

– The new Sassa card is EMV compliant (Eurocard, Mastercard, Visa compliant) which means the card offers vastly better security features.

– The card is accepted at all merchants and ATM’s in South Africa that displays the Visa sign.

Sassa said: “It is your responsibility to use your Sassa card responsibly.

“You may not use your card as security to get a loan from a money lender and you may not falsely state that the card was lost if it was pledged with a money lender to secure a loan.”

Social grants will continue to be paid and the process to replace the old SASSA card with the new one will continue until the end of September 2018. #PostCabinet #SASSA

— South African Government (@GovernmentZA) June 8, 2018

The new Sassa card gives:
•Three free cash withdrawals at shops.
•All purchases (swipes) at shops are free – no fee.
•No unauthorised deductions. It only allows a funeral policy deduction of 10% of the grant amount. pic.twitter.com/zsOSdCnfcp

— SA Post Office (@PostofficeSa) May 28, 2018

Beneficiaries had been urged to be wary of people marketing products under the guise of being Sassa officials.

When in doubt, they should contact their local offices or the customer care department on 0800-60-10-11.

For more information contact Sassa toll-free line on 0800-60-10-11 or visit your nearest Sassa office, especially should you receive any SMS that may contain information you are unsure about.