The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has introduced a fourth payment day for beneficiaries identified to undergo social grant reviews.

Presently, Sassa pays social grants over three days, starting with Older Persons’ Grants, followed by Disability Grants and Children’s Grants on successive dates.

Now a fourth payment day has been introduced for beneficiaries across all grant types to indicate that their grants are due for review.

Beneficiaries who this month received their grant on 7 July, which was the fourth payment day, must visit their nearest Sassa office to complete their grant review and avoid having their grant suspended during the next payment cycle.

Sassa national spokesperson, Dr Paseka Letsatsi, said 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.

Dr Letsatsi stressed that Sassa sends bulk SMS notifications to all beneficiaries targeted for grant reviews and eLife Certification for the relevant month.

Thereafter, their social grants are scheduled for payment on the fourth day of the normal three-day payment cycle.

Dr Letsatsi appealed to beneficiaries to act immediately upon receiving communication from Sassa requesting them to undergo a social grant review or complete verification through the eLife Certification self-service portal.

“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.

“If your personal details change and you do not notify us, we will continue sending communication to the contact number or address on our records, believing you will receive it,” he added.

He also emphasised that social grant reviews and eLife Certification are guided by Regulation 30 and Section 14(5) of the Social Assistance Act, 2004.

“The agency is required to conduct regular reviews to confirm beneficiaries’ continued eligibility, while beneficiaries are legally obliged to report any material changes in their circumstances, including changes to their financial or marital status.

“These reviews are essential to ensure that every social grant beneficiary remains eligible based on their current circumstances.

“This helps us in preventing payments to deceased or otherwise ineligible beneficiaries, and detecting fraud.

“These processes help protect public funds, maintain the integrity of the social assistance system, and ensure support is directed to those who genuinely qualify.

“This also helped us in keeping beneficiary information up to date, thereby improving communication and service delivery,” said Letatsi.

August payment dates

Tuesday, 4 August – Older Persons’ Grants
Wednesday, 5 August – Disability Grants
Thursday, 6 August – Children’s Grants
Friday, 7 August – Fourth payment day for beneficiaries targeted for reviews

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