THE South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) have announced the dates for its third set of social grants for the year. While President Cyril Ramaphosa announced an increase in social grants varying from R20-R85, these changes will only come into effect in April.

Also read: Sassa halts 70 000 grants in push for compliance

Dates of payment

The dates for the next payment are:

• Older persons: March 3, Tuesday.
• Disability grants: March 4, Wednesday.
• Childrens grants: March 5, Thursday.

Safety tips for Sassa beneficiaries

Sassa is also calling for beneficiaries to be vigilant during times of payout. To ensure safety when accessing your grant, Sassa has provided the following safety tips:

• Keep your personal and payment information confidential.
• Protect your Sassa card and pin at all times.
• Be cautious of strangers around ATMs.
• Be aware of your payment dates and consider waiting a few days after the scheduled date to avoid large crowds at payment points.
• Be wary of unsolicited calls or messages asking for your personal details or card information.
• Be alert and aware of your surroundings before and after using an ATM.
• Avoid using ATMs with blank screens or those located in poorly lit or secluded areas.
• Consider going with a friend and or a family member when collecting cash.
• Be suspicious of strangers who offer help or claim there’s a problem with the ATM.
• Security personnel stationed at ATMs are there to deter criminal activity and are not authorised to assist with transactions.

How to report suspicious activity

SAPS encourages the public to report any suspicious activity or criminal incidents by calling the Crime Stop number 08600 10111, the SASSA grant and fraud hotline 0800 601 or via the MySAPS App.

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