Sassa clarifies: Social grants have not been suspended

The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) says it has not suspended any social grants amid an ongoing process to review the ‘eligibility of identified beneficiaries suspected of having additional income that was not disclosed’.

The agency said during the review process, grants get delayed momentarily until a beneficiary has successfully completed the review process.

ALSO READ: Sassa social grants delayed for beneficiaries not declaring full income

“This review is not a punitive measure to deliberately exclude any deserving beneficiary, but it is intended to ensure continued eligibility and prevent misuse of public funds,” said CEO Themba Matlou.

Matlou said beneficiaries are legally required to fully disclose all sources of income during their initial application.

They are also obligated to inform Sassa of any changes to their financial circumstances after their application has been approved.

“The review of social grants helps identify beneficiaries who may no longer qualify due to changes in financial, medical or legal circumstances, and serves as a confirmation of life or existence, ensuring grants are not paid out to deceased individuals or those who have relocated without updating their records.

“More importantly, reviews allow Sassa to detect and prevent cases where individuals continue receiving grants despite being listed on payroll systems of other entities (public or private),” said Matlou.

Beneficiaries who have been affected by the grants review are encouraged to visit their nearest Sassa office with the following documents:

• Valid South African ID (13-digit barcoded ID or Smart ID card)

• Proof of income (e.g. payslips, pension slips, or affidavits if no longer employed, or employment discharge confirmations)

• Bank statements (last 3 months) – for all active bank accounts

• Proof of residence (utility bill or letter from a local authority)

• Medical referral report (if applicable, for disability or care dependency grants) – to confirm disability status

• Marriage certificate or divorce decree (if applicable)

• Death certificate (if some death has occurred, for example child, spouse etc)

•Any other supporting documents relevant to your grant type (e.g. birth certificates for Child Support Grants, school attendance proof for Foster Care Grants)

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