The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) introduced an identity verification process earlier this year to ensure only eligible people living in the country benefit from social grants. This exercise has led to the suspension of grant payments to some beneficiaries.
Several groups will be targeted during the identification verification process. These include beneficiaries whose ID numbers don’t appear on the Sassa system, beneficiaries who have multiple bank accounts and individuals flagged during a bulk means test.
Affected beneficiaries will not receive social grant payments.
What To Do If Your Sassa Grant Payment Is Not Paid
Sassa advised beneficiaries who did not receive grant payments to visit their nearest Sassa office to verify their identity.
The grant payment agency explained that a review will be done, and then their 13-digit ID numbers will be captured in the system.
Sassa warned that beneficiaries who do not visit a Sassa office to verify their identity could have their grants lapse.
Beneficiaries who fail to come forward during this process may have their social grants suspended, and if they continue not to respond, more drastic actions, such as the lapsing of their grant, will be applied.
The agency said social grants are subject to reviews at any time when there are reasons to believe that beneficiary circumstances have changed.
Grants are provided to beneficiaries based on their financial need and eligibility status. A beneficiary may have qualified for a grant previously, but due to changes in their marital status or financial circumstances, they may no longer qualify.
Sassa said these processes form part of concerted efforts and proactive measures implemented to enhance security, improve the integrity of its systems, and prevent fraudulent activities related to identity misrepresentation.
