Sassa grant payment delays for over 200,000 suspected 'double-dippers'
Sassa has delayed June social grant payments for 210,000 beneficiaries after discovering they may not have disclosed additional income.
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MORE than 210,000 social grant recipients across South Africa could face suspended payments next month after being flagged for failing to disclose other sources of income.
The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has identified a large number of beneficiaries who may be “double-dipping” - receiving grants while also earning income they did not declare. The agency, working with registered credit bureaus, has launched an initiative to clamp down on what it calls “inclusion errors” in the system.
“As part of this initiative, social grant payments for the affected beneficiaries will be delayed in the June 2025 payment cycle,” confirmed Sassa spokesperson Paseka Letsatsi.
“These individuals are required to present themselves at their nearest Sassa local offices for a grant review within 30 days … Beneficiaries who fail to comply with this process risk having their grants suspended. Continued non-compliance may lead to the permanent lapsing of their grants.”
According to Sassa, beneficiaries are required by law to disclose all sources of income when applying for grants and to report any changes in their financial situation. The Social Assistance Act explicitly prohibits recipients from withholding such information - a violation that may lead to criminal charges or financial penalties.
The review aims to ensure that only those who truly qualify for social assistance continue to receive it.
“This initiative is aimed at ensuring that beneficiaries confirm any changes in their financial circumstances and for them to update their personal details. It also seeks to address potential inclusion errors in the current social security system. A beneficiary may have qualified for a grant at the time of application, but improved material conditions over time may render them ineligible,” said Letsatsi.
The agency is also urging all grant beneficiaries to disclose any undeclared bank accounts and to replace their green barcoded ID books with smart ID cards, citing increased fraud risks linked to the older ID format.
Sassa has reaffirmed its zero-tolerance approach to fraud and has warned that any collusion between agency officials and beneficiaries will result in swift disciplinary and legal action.
Beneficiaries uncertain about their status are encouraged to visit their nearest Sassa office for clarification to avoid disruptions in future payments.